25 February '10
9:16 AM EST
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Cleantech
Funding
Policy
Solar
Wind

The Big Chinese Stand

Here in Austin, the mood amongst delegates attending Renewable Energy World Conference, North America is upbeat. The financial crisis is now mostly in the rear-view mirror of developers, who have been enjoying the Obama administration’s stimulus funding.

There are still some important issues hampering the industry, including access to cheap, long-term capital. Bankers are lending but they are a lot more selective compared to say, 2007 or 2008.

Besides funding issues, what’s also been on a lot of delegates mind is China and the very visible push this year by Chinese renewable energy companies to enter the North American renewable energy market.

And that’s what brings us to the “Chinese stand.” Read More »

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20 February '10
9:01 AM EST
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Biofuel
Funding
Policy
Solar
Wind

This Week in Green Energy: China Green Comes to Texas

Will U.S. power consumers ever rely on Chinese green power for their electricity? This notion, that just a few years ago seemed far fetched, will likely become a reality.  On Tuesday, Chinese wind turbine maker A-Power Energy Generation Systems received Chinese regulatory approval to proceed with a 600 megawatts, $1.5 billion wind farm to be constructed in Texas. The greenlight by the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission is a crucial hurdle to pass and will allow the project developers to, among other things, start approaching banks for financing. Read More »

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17 February '10
9:02 AM EST
No Comments
Funding
Wind

A-Power Receives Chinese Regulatory Approval for Texas Wind Farm

A-Power Energy Generation Systems has received Chinese regulatory approval to proceed with a 600 megawatt, $1.5 billion wind farm in Texas and established a company with its partners to develop the project, according to the company.

A-Power, through its subsidiary Shenyang Power Group, also contributed $36.6 million to the the company, which is a joint venture with U.S. Renewable Energy Group Wind Partners I and Cielo Wind Power. The company has not received financing commitments for the project. Read More »

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9 November '09
6:55 AM EST
No Comments
Funding
Policy

Three to Watch: Schumer v. Chinese wind, EPA v. Its Lawyers, Big Oil Hearts Natural Gas

Here are three stories we’ll be watching this week:

China-Wind-Turbines1. Late last week, New York Sen. Chuck Schumer asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu to reject a request for $450 million in stimulus funds for a Chinese-backed wind project in Texas. The wind turbines for the $1.5 billion, 600 megawatt farm would be manufactured by China’s A-Power Energy Generation Systems.

But wait, the venture doesn’t involve stimulus funds, A-Power’s Chief Operating Officer told Bloomberg. Project funding will be arranged through Chinese banks by Shenyang Power Group, a 49 percent owner of the wind farm. Read More »

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5 November '09
3:47 PM EST
1 Comment
Policy
Wind

Schumer: No Hearings (For Now) on Chinese-Backed Texas Wind Farm

Barely a week after it was announced, a $1.5 billion, Chinese-backed 600-megawatt Texas wind farm is in hot water.

In a letter released today, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) urged Energy Secretary Steven Chu and the Obama administration to deny the wind project’s Chinese backers stimulus funds — they were seeking $450 million in government money – to finance a portion of the project.

Is Senator Schumer’s letter a first salvo on the way to hearings? A spokesman with the senator’s Washington office tells us that’s not likely. “We’re sending the letter for now in the hopes that the secretary would deny the funding,” he explains.

In his letter to Secretary Chu, Schumer writes (scroll below for a full copy of the letter):

The idea that stimulus funds would be used to create jobs overseas is quite troubling and, therefore, I urge you to reject any request for stimulus money unless the high-value components, including the wind turbines, are manufactured in the United States.

Read More »

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