Rise in Green Energy Consumption in Scotland

More than a quarter of Scotland's electricity now comes from renewable energy sources, according to official statistics. The amount of energy generated by wind, wave and solar power increased by a fifth last year and now accounts for 27% of the nation's energy consumption.
Energy efficiency drives are also thought to have accounted for a four per cent drop in the amount of power consumed.
Climate change minister Roseanna Cunningham said: "Scotland is blessed with abundant natural energy sources, particularly in our seas, and these figures follow a steady trend towards Scotland's energy becoming greener and cleaner. "As consumption here fell by four per cent in 2009, exports to the rest of the UK are rising, with nearly a quarter of all our electricity produced going south, contributing further to sustainable economic growth. more>>
Courtesy: lythamstannesexpress.co.uk

China Moves to Defuse Trade Row With US Over Green Technology

China tried to defuse a trade row with the United States over wind technology on Thursday, as bilateral rivalries threatened to dash global hopes for green energy co-operation.
Officials in Beijing said they were willing to discuss incentives for turbine manufacturers, which the Obama administration described as "illegal subsidies" in a request for talks on the subject at the World Trade Organisation.

The US claims China has given an unfair advantage to domestic firms by channelling hundreds of millions of dollars to them through a special fund established in 2008.
The United Steelworkers union (USW) is frustrated that this weakens the competitiveness of US firms such as General Electric in a Chinese market that has doubled in size almost every year since 2005 and is now the biggest in the world in terms of generating capacity. more>>
Courtesy: guardian.co.uk