China’s energy production is in turmoil—but probably not because it is cutting back on fossil fuels. Although President Xi has claimed the country will cut back, it hasn’t so far. The causes of the current energy crisis are multiple. Reuters lists some: “China is in the grip of a power crunch as a shortage of…
Tag: China
Renewables: Oh, the Waste!
The Biden administration is ignoring the problem of waste and pollution in its pursuit of renewable energy, writes the Institute of Energy Research (IER). “Electric vehicle batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines result in a massive amount of waste and pollution. China is responsible for half of the total electric vehicles in the world—a number…
More Evidence of Forced Labor in China and Africa for ‘Green’ Energy
Reports from Sheffield Hallam University in England and the International Energy Agency strengthen the case that China is forcing its minority Uighur population to produce solar panels. Meanwhile, children as young as seven years old are mining for cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo under dangerous conditions; the mined cobalt is processed in…
How China Cornered the Market on Solar Panels
Why China’s solar panels cost less: subsidies, coal, and forced labor, says Michael Shellenberger on Substack: “The reason China came to dominate the market, producing 71% to 97% of solar panel components, is due to three main factors: cheap coal, heavy Chinese government subsidies allowing for the dumping of solar panels on foreign markets, and…
Does Solar Energy Depend on Forced Labor in China?
The evidence is increasing that the rare-earth minerals used in solar panels may be produced by forced labor. Most of the minerals come from Xinjiang, the area where China is known to be persecuting the Muslim Uygurs. Phred Dvorak and Matthew Dalton write in the Wall Street Journal (behind a paywall): “About half the world’s…
Where Are the Environmental Critics of China?
When it comes to climate change, China talks about reducing emissions but keeps building coal plants. So why are environmental groups so soft on China? Francis Menton explains on the Manhattan Contrarian. He notes what two leading environmental groups say about China (and there are more examples): Environmental Defense Fund, “Why China is at the…