China and the U.S. are two of the world's largest energy consumers. But the development of clean energy between the two countries has been uneven.
For one week last month, northwest Qinghai Province ran entirely on renewable energy. According to Chinese officials, 100% of energy came from wind, solar and hydro power stations. Even though it was only a trial, the latest effort by China to transition to clean energy is a plan that includes a nearly 400-million-dollar investment in renewables by 2020.
China's National Energy Administration estimates that that money will create 13 million jobs. More production has led to more consumption, which explains why China overtook the United States last year as the world's largest consumer of renewable power.
The U.S. and China have seen growth in the use of clean energy, but China's increase has been dramatic. Current projections suggest this pace will continue especially with Chinese President Xi Jinping making the use of renewables a clear priority.
