Once again, China passing US on environmentalism

As we approach Copenhagen in December, China approaches passing the U.S. in wind turbines.

True, there may be construction underbids, or corruption, associated with a semi-command economy on such issues.

Nonetheless, Beijing is requiring electric utilities to get 8 percent of their power from nonhydroelectric renewable sources by 2020. Waxman-Markey allows dams built after 1992 to contribute to the U.S.’s desired 15 percent “green” by 2020 standard. It does also allow (theoretically) documented conservation measures to count.

In reality, which will be better, I don’t know. But, aside from China’s continued refusal to commit to overall CO2 cuts, the story shows the U.S. doesn’t have a lot of room, necessarily, to go around browbeating China.