Highlights of Conclusions and Recommendations
Recommendations in italics are noted by the committee as having the highest level of priority.
CROSS-CUTTING INITIATIVES
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Create an Academies committee to identify opportunities for research, development, demonstration, and deployment of clean and efficient energy technologies
Consider sponsoring an “Academies-Industry Forum” to convene top-level energy industry representatives, researchers, and government agencies
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Initiate a governmental dialogue on incentives to accelerate deployment of advanced energy technologies, perhaps demonstrating a technology project under the Clean Development Mechanism
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Increase interaction among U.S. and Chinese government agencies and recommend that government financing agencies emphasize energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other advanced clean energy technologies
Authorize the U.S. Agency for International Development, including the U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership, to work in China
Authorize the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to work in China
ENERGY USE AND END-USE EFFICIENCY
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Increase investment and trade in advanced energy efficiency technologies
Expand information exchange, support training, and facilitate investment and joint ventures
Undertake a high-level bilateral study of institutional innovations to promote financing
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Strengthen and expand existing collaborative pre-competitive research, development, and demonstration of energy efficiency technologies
Expand and strengthen the Sino-U.S. Working Group on Energy Efficiency and add a team on transportation energy efficiency
CLEAN COAL
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Review and strengthen existing governmental programs to utilize clean coal technologies in China
Support a private center to undertake studies and analysis, conduct seminars, and perform institution building
Hold focused workshops and training on management practices, progress at various clean coal technology demonstrations, and how to work with bilateral and multilateral agencies
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Convene an industry public and private-sector group to assess clean coal technologies, determine suitability for China, and identify specific adaptations required beginning with specific high-priority areas
NATURAL GAS
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Work collaboratively with industry to develop an overall strategy for accelerated natural gas development in China
Specific priority areas include exploration and resource assessments, gas market infrastructure, and environmental policy reform
Coalbed methane priorities include extraction, market definition, and access
China should consider distributed electric power generation options using remote sources of natural gas or coalbed methane
PETROLEUM
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The Oil and Gas Forum should focus on: restructuring and building market institutions; long-term strategies on development, operations, imports, and strategic reserves; exploration and resources assessment; refining technologies
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and alternate transport fuels; and environmental protection in a system that reflects real costs
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Our countries have common energy security concerns and could benefit from collaboration on an analysis of strategic petroleum reserves and macroeconomic impacts of fluctuations in the world petroleum market
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Governments and industry should establish a dialogue on light transport vehicles and alternatives to petroleum transport fuels and cooperate on both technology development and market creation
Consider a broader examination of urban transportation systems in both countries
RENEWABLE ENERGY
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U.S.-Chinese cooperation would be especially important in: setting up a market-oriented policy framework; technology and market assessments; strengthening research and development cooperation and trade and investment; and training of renewable energy practitioners
Our governments should consider a long-term research and development public-private partnership
Increase collaboration, trade, and investment in specific high-priority areas
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Establish periodic reviews of renewable energy collaboration
NUCLEAR ENERGY
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Collaborate on mutual nuclear priorities: preventing proliferation and theft; properly handling spent fuel and waste; improving safety in design and operation of plants; and improving the economics of nuclear energy
Simplify and standardize the design of future plants
Demonstrate long-term storage and disposal of spent fuel and high-level waste
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Our governments and industry should play a leadership role in international organizations relating to nuclear power
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Expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation
The committee endorses the framework of the Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology agreement
The U.S. Department of Energy should consider expanding the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative to involve China and other countries
Consider the model of the National Academy for Nuclear Training to en sure high-quality personnel and safety standards at nuclear facilities
ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
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Collaborate on measures to improve the electric power sector in China, including support for international financial institution financing for the grid; the legal limitations of foreign participation in transmission facilities; options to improve adequacy, quality, and reliability of electric power; and reduction of line losses
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Collaborate on developing more economically viable distributed power sources for remote areas and identify cooperative activities that advance distributed generation