3 ms·
From what I understand there is an ongoing battle in the Chinese government between those who understand the country desperately needs to get off of fossil fuel
by woodandsteel 7y ago
From what I understand there is an ongoing battle in the Chinese government between those who understand the country desperately needs to get off of fossil fuels as soon as possible, and those who want to stay on coal forever. So at the same time that China has been building an enormous number of coal plants, it is also building renewable power plants and pushing hard on ev's.
- IIAOPSW 7y ago>there is an ongoing battle ... between those who understand the country desperately needs to get off of fossil fuels as soon as possible, and those who want to stay on coal forever. Sounds like a certain other major country.
- eunos 7y agoCoal still employs a huge amount of people. Besides, coal Barrons are very rich and influential as well.
- greglindahl 7y agoSolar is pretty labor-intensive to install, while coal is extremely mechanized.
- woodandsteel 7y agoThe difference is the head of state of China is an engineer and in touch with reality on this matter.
- bobthepanda 7y agoChina's Five Year Plans are very big on numbers. I don't think I've seen one where China has ever reduced a target related to economic expansion. I'm kind of surprised they even need that much more power at this point, since the country is fairly developed, where growth tapers off and energy efficiency starts rising.
- woodandsteel 7y agoWhile the developed part of China is gigantic, my understanding is that half the country still lives in the countryside and is relatively underdeveloped, and the government is working to rapidly move them to cities.