BEIJING – China’s utilities will be required to buy all the power produced by wind farms and other renewable sources under a new law meant to promote the industry and reduce heavy reliance on coal.
Legislators approved the measure on Saturday, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Beijing has set ambitious goals for renewable energy in an effort to clean up its environment and curb surging demand for imported oil and gas, which its leaders see as a strategic weakness.
The measure could also help Beijing fulfil promises to restrain growth in emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for changing the climate.
Other countries such as Germany and Spain also promote solar, wind and other renewable power sources by requiring utilities to buy it and to pay higher prices than for electricity from coal and other traditional sources.
Government goals issued in 2005 call for at least 15 per cent of China’s power to come from wind, solar and hydropower by 2020, up from 9 per cent currently.
Officials say that target may be raised to 20 per cent because the industry is developing so fast.
Coal provides two-thirds of China’s power and is expected to remain the dominant energy source in coming years.
China is the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse bases but is not bound by global agreements on curbing emissions because it is a developing economy. AP

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