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Stimulus Funds for Chinese Wind Manufacturers?
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Wind Farm
Earlier this week I told you that China marched into the Lone Star State with $1.5 billion for a 600+ megawatt wind farm. The project is actually a joint venture with Cielo Wind Power, U.S. Renewable Energy Group, and Shenyang Power Group. When completed, it will supply enough power for about 180,000 homes.
Well, now it looks like Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), wants the Obama administration to reject an expected request for stimulus funding for this particular wind project because it could end up generating Chinese jobs – not U.S. jobs. According to the Senator, if approved, the funds would be used to buy turbines and other components made in a Chinese plant.
Certainly I agree that stimulus money should be provided for projects that create domestic jobs (especially in the manufacturing sector). But it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
I suspect that part of the whole deal hinged on Chinese manufacturer, A-Power Generation Systems providing the turbines. And I can't imagine A-Power will set up manufacturing facilities in the U.S. just for this one project.
It's actually quite frustrating when you think about it. After all, we have fantastic wind resources in Texas, yet at this point, the only folks willing to pony up the cash to develop this particular project are in China.
Don't get me wrong. If China wants to invest in these projects (and make huge profits) because we can't seem to get it done – so be it. Because the bottom line is that we need to build out our renewable energy mix and strengthen our electric infrastructure now. Not tomorrow. And if China's willing to step in because we won't – well, that's on us.
And don't kid yourself. China already has a huge stake in all of this anyway. Whether through turbines, solar panels and batteries or the rare earth elements that are necessary to build these things – China's influence on OUR energy economy is real...and it's massive.
Of course, it's no secret that the opportunity for renewable energy development in the U.S. is huge. And if a Chinese company wants to invest in a Texas wind farm or set up shop here in the United States, and use domestic workers to manufacture this stuff – I'm all for it. Certainly that's what companies like Vestas, Gamesa and Siemens have done.
But with unemployment likely to remain at unacceptable levels for years to come, we can't afford to lose out on a single job.
That being said, if we don't get our act together soon and start getting aggressive on providing the necessary funding and manufacturing for our own renewable energy development – rest assured, someone else will. With or without stimulus funds.
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