subject: U.S. Energy Secretary Says the United States Should Follow China's Lead [print this page] U.S. Energy Secretary Says the United States Should Follow China's Lead
Speaking before the opening of the United Nations climate summit in Cancn, Mexico, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that the United States should invest in research and development to spur innovation in clean energy technology, much like China has done over the past few years.
"We face a choice today. Are we going to continue America's innovation leadership or are we going to fall behind?" Chu said.
Chu argued that over the past 15 years, the United States has been losing ground to innovations originating from China and India. For the first time last year, the majority of U.S. patents were awarded to inventors based outside America.
Today, China manufactures about 20 percent of global high-tech exports, while the U.S. share has fallen to less than 15 percent. Domestically, China has roughly 30 nuclear reactors in the works compared to 2 fully functional ones in the United States. China also holds the world record in high-speed rail mileage with roughly 5,000 miles under construction. The United States has zero.
Gao Guangsheng, a top Chinese official for climate change policy, told a conference in California this month that China was gearing up for even bigger investment in clean energy technology in its next five-year plan.
Gao explained to the conference, which was hosted by California Terminator Arnold Schwarzenegger, that China had reached its goal for wind power generation 10 years ahead of schedule.
"We set up a concrete conception of low carbon development," he said. Though, he doubted the United States could profit from China's example.
"I am afraid China's experience of green development may not be useful for the United States because of different domestic situations."
But one lesson that the United States can take away from China's innovation success is the importance of long-term planning and investment, Chu said.
