China soon to be world leader in wind turbine manufacture

     A fascinating article in Platt's "Renewable Energy Report" recently caught my eye.  In which, author, Neil Ford writes that the Global Wind Energy Councils predicting that China is set to become the world's largest supplier of wind turbines by 2009.

    Currently,  this production is split between Chinese and international companies, who produce their turbines in China for cost reasons.  With Western companies maintaining a competitive advantage in service and intellectual property.  

     I applaud this development, as China desperately needs clean energy to help replace or slow down the use of coal burning power plants.  However, I do have concerns that this is a sign of the United States missing something very important.  Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, has written forcefully about how the United States can become a world leader in Green Technology, thus reviving our economy.  Though wind turbine production in America has increased, with newer and better designs, it simply pains me to see that America is not living up to our potential to be THE world leader in the new energy economy.