US-China Green e-Letter Vol. 1 Issue 2, July 2009

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Editor-in-Chief: John Reinsch, Director of Public Communications

Letter From The Editor

On June 26, 2009 the U.S. House or Representatives passed the American Clean Energy & Security Act (ACES) by a 219 to 212 vote. ACES covers four large areas: Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Reducing Global Warming, and Transitioning to a Clean Energy Economy. Of note are provisions within each of these areas covering implementation of renewables, clean transportation, smart grid, carbon capture / sequestration, and a cap in trade system. Although there are heavy criticisms on both sides – some criticize ACES for not going far enough while others criticize it as going too far – the fact is that the House’s passage of ACES marks an historic step for U.S. climate change mitigation policy. The UCGEC will be tracking the bill’s progress through the Senate and providing pertinent updates and analyses about this landmark legislation as they become available.

EVENTS CALENDAR:

2nd US-China Green Energy Forum: October 21-22, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Palo Alto, CA

UCGEC Green Building Task Force Seminar Series No.1: Integrating Policy, Standards, Design and Incentives in the U.S. and China: July 21, 2009 at Wilson Sonsini in Palo Alto, CA.

Info Session for the UCGEC China Business Trip (Aug 31 – Sept 9, 2009; Nanjing, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an): 6:00 – 8:30PM, July 16, 2009 at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Conference Room Terrace 2A & B) in Palo Alto, CA; Dial-in Phone No.: (605) 475-4850; Passcode: 441842 #; FREE food and registration for all the companies and firms who attend. Please RSVP to Ms. Xiaofeng Zhang (xzhang123@yahoo.com) by July 15 (Wed) as space is limited.

Fountain Blue’s Energy Entrepreneur’s Forum Presents “Energy Generation Breakthroughs and Challenges”: August 3 in Palo Alto, CA – Please register by July 31, 2009.

HYSTA Emerging ELF and Committee of 100 – “Mentoring for Success”: July 19, 2009 at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP in Menlo Park, CA

Silicon Valley Wireless Economic Development Summit: August 20 – 21, 2009 at Microsoft in Mountain View, CA.

UCGEC NEWS:

UCGEC Delegation to Washington D.C.:

The UCGEC delegation will visit Washington D.C. July 27-30, with support from UCGEC Honorary Chairman, Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and U.S. Congressman Mike Honda. The delegation will meet with over 20 congresspersons, senators, and cabinet members from the Obama Administration regarding energy and climate change. The objectives of the delegation are to:

Enhance connections with the U.S. Congress and Obama Administration;
Exchange thoughts on US-China cleantech collaboration;
Seek advice on the role of NGOs and US-China cleantech collaboration;
Report UCGEC projects and accomplishments;
Share UCGEC view and plan for the future

More to come in the next UCGEC e-Letter.

UCGEC Hosts U.S. Delegation to China:

The UCGEC is pleased to announce that it will host a delegation of its U.S. members to China. The purpose of this trip will be to facilitate collaboration among UCGEC members / contacts on both sides of the Pacific. Participants will have the exclusive opportunity to meet top Chinese government officials, seek investment opportunities, find partners and create business relationships in China’s up-andcoming economic regions. Please visit UCGEC China Business Trip for more info. The media coverage of this trip includes Caijing Magazine, China Business News, and China Dialogue.

The UCGEC Welcomes Yi ZHENG back to the U.S.:

The UCGEC’s V.P. of China Operations, Yi ZHENG, recently arrived back in the U.S. Pictured above are members of the executive committee who met to celebrate the occasion.

The 2nd US-China Green Energy Forum:

Our annual conference is fast approaching and the UCGEC committees have already secured prominent speakers in the areas of Smart Grid, IT, Green Buildings, Transportation, Renewable Energy and Investment. The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Cabana Hotel in Palo Alto on October 21-22, 2009. Please visit 2nd US-China Green Energy Forum for more info.

Follow the UCGEC on Facebook and Twitter! Stay up-to-day on UCGEC / UCGEC partner events and news by following us on twitter and facebook.

GLOBAL NEWS:

Renewable Energy Receives $3 Billion in Recovery Act Funds: The department of Energy announces providing direct payments (not just tax credits) for renewable energy projects.

Impact of the Recovery Act Buy American Provision on Chinese Solar Companies, by Fred Greguras and Sean Bamford of K&L Gates.

Tesla Approved for $465 Million in Government Funds: Tesla will be dedicating these funds to the release of its newest addition – the Model S.

World’s Largest Wind Farm Runs into Problems: T. Boone Pickens is having problems raising money for the Pampa Wind Farm.

Climate Legislation Meets Early opposition in the Senate: Hearings are met with harsh criticisms.

U.N. Sec’y General: G8 Action Insufficient: Ban Ki-Moon says that goals reached by G8 are insufficient to counter climate change.

CO2 Traders Betting Against Climate Change Laws: Traders are buying put options in anticipation of carbon credits falling in value.

UCGEC INDUSTRY TASK FORCE NEWS:

Smart Grid Task Force:

Another Success – Smart Grid Seminar No. 2:

Bob Larson opened the seminar, with speakers at the podiumSmart Grid Seminar No. 2, “How IT Will Enable Smart Grid,” was a resounding success. On July 9, 2009 professionals from all walks of life with a common interest in cleantech met at Google to hear speakers from the UCGEC, Intel, Google, Cisco, and Greentech Media discuss IT issues relating to Smart Grid and its implementation. As one commentator noted: “feedback was uniformly positive – it was a strong and informative evening.” The UCGEC Smart Grid Task Force looks forward to continuing its success with future Seminars and at the 2nd Annual USChina Green Energy Forum.

Transportation Industry Task Force:

Opportunities for PHEV’s Exposed!

This Task Force’s First Seminar in its Transportation Seminar series kicked off on June 22, 2009 with “Green Vehicles Overview – Where is the Opportunity for PHEVs?” Speakers at the event came from the UCGEC, UC Davis, PG&E, a former Director of R&D at Tesla, and the CPUC. Topics of discussion included: a general overview of opportunities for PHEVs, enabling battery & systems technologies, electric recharging infrastructure, the Chinese PHEV market, and regulations & incentives in the U.S. The event garnered great positive feedback and the UCGEC’s Transportation Task Force looks forward to future seminars. Additional presentation materials should be available at www.ucgef.org very soon.

Green Building / Eco-City Task Force:

A Discussion About Integrating Standards and Incentives between the U.S. and China:

On July 21, 2009 the Green Building Task force will kick off its Seminar Series with an overview of the Policy framework for Green Buildings in the U.S. and China. Representatives from the UCGEC, the City of San Jose, Nth Power V, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and AECOM.

Join us for this seminar and learn about the regulatory landscape, challenges, and opportunities facing Green Buildings in the U.S. and China. Subsequent Seminars will delve deeper into these issues.

IT and Energy Task Force:

We are hard at work planning for the upcoming US-China Green Energy Forum. We will be providing updates as they become available (please follow the UCGEC on twitter and facebook to receive updates in between e-Letters).

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