China wind surge prompts U.S. industry warning

Here’s more ammo for Capitol Hill lawmakers with the Tom Friedman view of energy policy, which holds that China will  “clean our clock” in clean energy industries if the U.S. doesn't boost support faster and cap carbon emissions.

The Global Wind Energy Council reported this week that China alone accounted for a third of global wind power capacity additions in 2009. Worldwide capacity grew 31 percent, pushed along by a doubling of wind power in China.

The U.S. also saw a major expansion last year and remains in the world lead for the most wind power capacity. But Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, noted Wednesday that China is “hard on our heels.”

“If this isn’t the ‘case-closed’ evidence that America must have stable renewable energy policy and hard targets in order to create jobs and revitalize our economy, I don’t know what is,” she said of the data about China’s expansion.

Bode called for enactment of a national renewable electricity standard, a longstanding priority for renewables advocates and many Democrats that would require utilities to supply escalating amounts of power from sources like wind, solar and biomass.

A renewables standard (albeit one weaker than the industry wants) is part of the sweeping energy and climate bill the House passed last year. A similar mandate is included in energy legislation the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approved. But prospects for final congressional action are uncertain.