On October 13th, the Eighth US-China Energy Efficiency Forum was held in Denver, Colorado. A place for senior officials from the United States and China to discuss new policies and trade and investment opportunities, the forum highlights US-China cooperation on clean energy. Energy collaboration between the two countries is critical for global energy security, climate change, and nuclear security, and the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of International Affairs regularly engages China on collaborative projects to promote energy sustainability. During this year’s forum, the DOE formally recognized nine 2017 US-China pilot projects. The projects give American and Chinese companies a chance to collaborate and present successful models that use new approaches and provide business opportunities. The projects will use a combination of innovative financing models, international performance measurement and verification protocols, and integrated systems approaches to achieve at least 20% energy savings throughout buildings.
Since its beginning in 2010, the US-China Efficiency Forum has increased in size and impact each year. American companies will benefit from partnering with Chinese companies by gaining access to a larger market for their clean energy products and experience operating in China. Co-organized by the DOE’s Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy and China’s National Development and Reform Commission, the Forum is a cornerstone of the US-China Energy Efficiency Action Plan — a creation of former presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao in 2009. American companies will benefit from new partnerships forged at the forum by gaining access to the Chinese market and experience in China.
There are many bilateral forums for US-China energy cooperation. The US-China Clean Energy Research Center, the Energy Efficiency Action Plan, the Clean Energy Working Group, and the Clean Coal Industry Form are just a few among many bilateral platforms for such collaboration. There are also a number of multilateral platforms, such as the Forum for Nuclear Energy Cooperation, the International Energy Agency, Mission Innovation, the International Forum for Nuclear Energy Cooperation, and the Clean Energy Ministerial. Both countries place a high priority on climate and energy issues, and such cooperation provides great opportunities to reduce energy use and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Rebecca Chen is a research intern at the East-West Center and a graduate student at Georgetown University.