Why China Has Already Overtaken The U.S. In CleantechIt's been fashionable to debate whether China will some day surpass the U.S. in clean technology. Yet, after reviewing some of the metrics that really matter, one could conclude that it already has. At least this was my thesis in moderating a recent Haas School of Business event at U.C. Berkeley in California that explored whether China would become a green economy leader. China has already surpassed the U.S., I argued (as reported elsewhere), and pointed to the following:
If this trajectory holds, the majority of cleantech-related jobs, tax revenues and cleantech commercialization bragging rights will go to Asian, mostly Chinese, companies. The interesting question for us at Kachan & Co. is what commercial opportunities will this eventuality ultimately create for others elsewhere? How can the U.S. and other jurisdictions leverage the Chinese cleantech juggernaut? Obviously, some companies will benefit from the establishment of joint ventures with Asian companies. And there WILL be local manufacturing jobs, especially when the rising cost of oil makes overseas shipping from Asia less cost-effective—one of the reasons China's Suntech is setting up local U.S. manufacturing in Arizona, for example. But where are the less obvious opportunities? We have thoughts. Contact us to discuss.
A former managing director of the Cleantech Group, Dallas Kachan is now managing partner of Kachan & Co., a cleantech research and advisory firm that does business worldwide from offices in San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. Its staff have been covering, publishing about and helping propel clean technology since 2006. Kachan & Co. offers research reports, consulting and other services that help accelerate its clients’ success in clean technology. Details at www.kachan.com. The information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of RenewableEnergyWorld.com or the companies that advertise on this Web site and other publications. This blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar.
10 Reader Comments
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Dallas Kachan
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The U.S. could surpass China in clean energy production if they started funding geothermal and Wave Energy (that use the oceans waves and turbines) production, but the U.S. will not do that because the Republicans will block every clean energy bill that comes before them except the bills that will direct the majority of the funding to nuclear or fossil fuel.
So, China, until the U.S. finds a way to control its stupidity and the Republican party, you have no fear in leading the world in clean energy production. Congratulations in being intelligent enough to know how to take advantage of a very stupid and powerful nation like the U.S..