Do the Chinese run away from us with regards to renewable?

Yes they have a high speed on their renewable development, but they need it and they are 1.3 billion people living there.

The heading is from a meeting to be at “Renewable Stavanger” February 23^rd at the Oil-museum.

China is a large country, after visiting last summer and seen some of it, you can’t get other than impressed. Visiting two renewable conferences as well some companies in the renewable business in addition to fly across the country including a night train ride we got to learn a lot.

One thing is for sure, China need renewable and they know it. In addition they manage to take decisions and execute them. There is no bureaucracy that stops it. Most time we do not fancy a democratic dictatorship, but with regards to implement renewable energy in China I do.

So my answer to the above question is that China just does what they are needed to do and it is up to us to follow and do more.

So what can we do in Stavanger and Rogaland?

A year or so ago I was participating at a conference at UiS (University of Stavanger) and one of the participant speakers I was talking with there could tell much was could be done.

His name is Issa Dadoush, and he is General Manager of the Construction and Facility Service Department, Houston Independent School District.

Houston, where I am now a permanent resident, have managed to reduce spend on electricity by very actively create opportunities for the public. We here also talk about decrease in energy consumption.

One of the many great initiatives done in Houston is carried out by NASA when they build their last Building 20. Who got the highest standard for energy efficiency LEED Platinum – set by the U.S. Green Building Council(have a look at the latest newsletter from the Stavanger Region’s Houston Office).

http://www.greaterstavanger.com/

So as a sister city Stavanger at least could easily look west and bring on some of the experience from Houston in addition to use the participation in World Energy Cities Partnership to have exchange of experience to what to do.

http://www.energycities.org/index.asp

It would be great to have a chat with Mr. Brage Johanesen next week to be a bit pre-informed about what he looks at when he is to talk about “Sputnic Moment”. I am not sure if it will be from his visit to NASA or any other vision for Rogaland.

I wish both contenders for the job as Mayor later this year good luck in the debate, it would be interested to have been there, but sorry I will still be in Houston. Put it on web TV as they do for the discussions at the local council meetings.