The US is currently isolated from the rest of the world by differing NHSTA standards and testing requirements from ECE standards, which results in more fuel-efficient vehicles being kept out of the US that are available to the rest of the world. This agreement aims to prevent that double standard from relegating the US to technological backwater status as we move ahead with electric vehicles.
Developing renewable energy:
Clean Energy Research Center. The Center will facilitate joint research and development of clean energy technologies by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China, as well as serve as a clearinghouse to help researchers in each country. The Center will be supported by public and private funding of at least US$150 million over five years, split evenly between the two countries. Initial research priorities will be building energy efficiency, clean coal including carbon capture and storage, and clean vehicles.
Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Under the new plan, the two countries will work together to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, industrial facilities, and consumer appliances. US and Chinese officials will work together and with the private sector to develop energy efficient building codes and rating systems, benchmark industrial energy efficiency, train building inspectors and energy efficiency auditors for industrial facilities, harmonize test procedures and performance metrics for energy efficient consumer products, exchange best practices in energy efficient labeling systems, and convene a new US-China Energy Efficiency Forum to be held annually, rotating between the two countries.
Renewable Energy Partnership. Under the Partnership, the two countries will develop roadmaps for wide-spread renewable energy deployment in both countries. The Partnership will also provide technical and analytical resources to states and regions in both countries to support renewable energy deployment and will facilitate state-to-state and region-to-region partnerships to share experience and best practices. A new Advanced Grid Working Group will bring together US and Chinese policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, and civil society to develop strategies for grid modernization in both countries. A new US-China Renewable Energy Forum will be held annually, rotating between the two countries.
Cleaning up traditional energy:
21st Century Coal. The two countries are launching a program of technical cooperation to bring teams of US and Chinese scientists and engineers together in developing clean coal and CCS technologies. The two governments are also actively engaging industry, academia, and civil society in advancing clean coal and CCS solutions. The Presidents welcomed:
- a grant from the US Trade and Development Agency to the China Power Engineering and Consulting Group Corporation to support a feasibility study for an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant in China using American technology;
- an agreement by Missouri-based Peabody Energy to participate in GreenGen, a project of several major Chinese energy companies to develop a near-zero emissions coal-fired power plant;
- an agreement between GE and Shenhua Corporation to collaborate on the development and deployment of IGCC and other clean coal technologies; and
- an agreement between AES and Songzao Coal and Electric Company to use methane captured from a coal mine in Chongqing, China, to generate electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Shale Gas Initiative. Under the Initiative, the US and China will use experience gained in the United States to assess China’s shale gas potential, promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources, conduct joint technical studies to accelerate development of shale gas resources in China, and promote shale gas investment in China through the US-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, study tours, and workshops.
Energy Cooperation Program. The program will leverage private sector resources for project development work in China across a broad array of clean energy projects, to the benefit of both nations. More than 22 companies are founding members of the program. The ECP will include collaborative projects on renewable energy, smart grid, clean transportation, green building, clean coal, combined heat and power, and energy efficiency.
Cleaning up coal in China makes electric vehicles make sense.
Image: TheWhiteHouse at Flikr
Source: Energy.gov via James Fallows
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About Susan Kraemer
good work Guys, keep the good UP.
Susan, are you Asian? If not, where did you get the idea that Barack bowed TOO deeply? I’ve talked to several Asians that saw the video of him bowing, and they said all the OTHER presidents did it wrong! Obama is the one that did it right! Try to be more knowledgable about the things you spout off about before you listen to what others have told you.
Susan, are you Asian? If not, where did you get the idea that Barack bowed TOO deeply? I’ve talked to several Asians that saw the video of him bowing, and they said all the OTHER presidents did it wrong! Obama is the one that did it right! Try to be more knowledgable about the things you spout off about before you listen to what others have told you.
Bill, I don’t think you are supposed to take that part seriously …
Susan,
Where did you see anything about India’s 20% “cut” ? The nearest I see is this …
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHJyr31_bzTcaOOMqhJJUi7I_n5Q
Bill, I don’t think you are supposed to take that part seriously …
Susan,
Where did you see anything about India’s 20% “cut” ? The nearest I see is this …
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHJyr31_bzTcaOOMqhJJUi7I_n5Q
@Bill. Heh.
evnow – It was in the India Times:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-offers-to-cut-carbon-intensity-by-20-25/articleshow/5276169.cms
“BEIJING/NEW DELHI: The battle for scoring PR points at the climate change talks has been joined in right earnest.
On Friday, India dramtically announced that it could consider voluntarily reducing its carbon intensity by 20-25% on a purely domestic level.
This represents a big leap on the measures announced so far by the government to cut emissions, and will extend to the entire economy rather than be restricted to specific sectors as is the case now.”
@Bill. Heh.
evnow – It was in the India Times:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-offers-to-cut-carbon-intensity-by-20-25/articleshow/5276169.cms
“BEIJING/NEW DELHI: The battle for scoring PR points at the climate change talks has been joined in right earnest.
On Friday, India dramtically announced that it could consider voluntarily reducing its carbon intensity by 20-25% on a purely domestic level.
This represents a big leap on the measures announced so far by the government to cut emissions, and will extend to the entire economy rather than be restricted to specific sectors as is the case now.”
Proper protocol requires that you only bow to superiors and never to equals.
The President of the United States is still, although he is doing his best to change the status, the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. He should NOT be bowing to anyone.
Proper protocol requires that you only bow to superiors and never to equals.
The President of the United States is still, although he is doing his best to change the status, the leader of the most powerful nation in the world. He should NOT be bowing to anyone.
Talk is cheap. It’s easy to promise figures. China and India need to back up the figures with real action.
Talk is cheap. It’s easy to promise figures. China and India need to back up the figures with real action.
You’re absolutely right. The trip was an unqualified success … you’re just the only one who sees it. China and India will promise this and that until the cows come home. In the end, though, they will do whatever is in their best interests (economically) to do. If that means ditching these meaningless emissions reduction pledges, then they’ll do it. Governments can make statements like this because there is no one to hold them accountable. It’s a PR stunt … the whole trip was essentially one big photo op.
From what I see, Obama’s biggest achievement was agreeing to freely export U.S. technology on EV development to a country that hasn’t yet figured out how to make a decent automobile (electric or otherwise). Nice job, Barack! Why not give some of that stimulus cash to the Chinese to build EV’s that we can then import back to the U.S.? It was a good idea for wind turbines, why not cars too? I guess it’s only fair that the stimulus money go to China … it’s their money, after all. Once again, nice job, Barack!
You’re absolutely right. The trip was an unqualified success … you’re just the only one who sees it. China and India will promise this and that until the cows come home. In the end, though, they will do whatever is in their best interests (economically) to do. If that means ditching these meaningless emissions reduction pledges, then they’ll do it. Governments can make statements like this because there is no one to hold them accountable. It’s a PR stunt … the whole trip was essentially one big photo op.
From what I see, Obama’s biggest achievement was agreeing to freely export U.S. technology on EV development to a country that hasn’t yet figured out how to make a decent automobile (electric or otherwise). Nice job, Barack! Why not give some of that stimulus cash to the Chinese to build EV’s that we can then import back to the U.S.? It was a good idea for wind turbines, why not cars too? I guess it’s only fair that the stimulus money go to China … it’s their money, after all. Once again, nice job, Barack!
Pls, try to avoid politics here… it doesn’t really matter, what they signed, history tells.
Pls, try to avoid politics here… it doesn’t really matter, what they signed, history tells.
Susan,
You might want to read the L.A. Times’ correction page – http://tinyurl.com/yl7dg9p
Emission goals: An article and graphic in Friday’s Section A about China’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions stated that the nation had vowed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2020. China promised to reduce its “carbon intensity,” a measure of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product, by 40% to 45% by 2020, compared with 2005 levels. A headline accompanying the article was also incorrect in saying that “China meets, beats U.S. on emission reduction goals.” Whereas the U.S. plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below 2005 levels, China’s emissions could actually increase, depending on its economic growth.
Susan,
You might want to read the L.A. Times’ correction page – http://tinyurl.com/yl7dg9p
Emission goals: An article and graphic in Friday’s Section A about China’s pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions stated that the nation had vowed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2020. China promised to reduce its “carbon intensity,” a measure of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of gross domestic product, by 40% to 45% by 2020, compared with 2005 levels. A headline accompanying the article was also incorrect in saying that “China meets, beats U.S. on emission reduction goals.” Whereas the U.S. plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to below 2005 levels, China’s emissions could actually increase, depending on its economic growth.
@Tech@Chuck: Talk is cheap? “Cheap talk” under Kyoto legislation has led EU fossil energy co BP to build advanced CCS hydrogen fuel plant
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/12/01/kyoto-accord-to-hydrogen-power-california/
@Chidemont Yeah, that’s other whole article; comparing various pledges and baselines.
I’d do that at cleantechnica where I write in more depth about policy design, but the link I supply in the story in “That calculates out to the equivalent to 5% below 1990 (Kyoto’s baseline year).” can get you some initial comparisons.
Bottom line is anything works. You’d be surprised how many flaws a study I wrote a summary of found in the ETS system,
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/28/what-the-senate-should-know-about-cap-and-trade-in-europe/
…yet they cut their CO2 13% with it
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/13/eu-on-track-to-meet-or-exceed-original-kyoto-goals-estimate-139-below-1990/
some by almost half!
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/21/eu-paper-industry-has-cut-carbon-pollution-by-42-exceeded-kyoto-goals/
@Tech@Chuck: Talk is cheap? “Cheap talk” under Kyoto legislation has led EU fossil energy co BP to build advanced CCS hydrogen fuel plant
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/12/01/kyoto-accord-to-hydrogen-power-california/
@Chidemont Yeah, that’s other whole article; comparing various pledges and baselines.
I’d do that at cleantechnica where I write in more depth about policy design, but the link I supply in the story in “That calculates out to the equivalent to 5% below 1990 (Kyoto’s baseline year).” can get you some initial comparisons.
Bottom line is anything works. You’d be surprised how many flaws a study I wrote a summary of found in the ETS system,
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/09/28/what-the-senate-should-know-about-cap-and-trade-in-europe/
…yet they cut their CO2 13% with it
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/13/eu-on-track-to-meet-or-exceed-original-kyoto-goals-estimate-139-below-1990/
some by almost half!
http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/21/eu-paper-industry-has-cut-carbon-pollution-by-42-exceeded-kyoto-goals/
@ChuckL — Sorry, but you are 100% wrong on your bowing information. I happen to live in Japan and had a discussion with a group of Japanese friends on this very topic following Obama’s bow.
A bow in Japan does not indicate superiority/inferiority, it is a gesture of respect.
The idea that our nation does not need to show respect for others is a primary reason that our worldwide reputation is in it’s current state.
@ChuckL — Sorry, but you are 100% wrong on your bowing information. I happen to live in Japan and had a discussion with a group of Japanese friends on this very topic following Obama’s bow.
A bow in Japan does not indicate superiority/inferiority, it is a gesture of respect.
The idea that our nation does not need to show respect for others is a primary reason that our worldwide reputation is in it’s current state.