Shale gas is part of US-China clean energy accord

It may have been toward the bottom of the list. But US President Barack H. Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao did include a shale gas resource initiative in their Nov. 17 announcement of measures to strengthen clean energy cooperation between the two countries.

“Under the initiative, the US and China will use experience gained in the United States to assess China’s shale gas potential, promote environmentally-sustainable development of shale gas resources, conduct joint technical studies to accelerate development of shale gas resources in China, and promote shale gas investment in China through the US-China Oil and Gas Industry Forum, study tours, and workshops,” the White House said in a statement posted at its Web site.

The most important of the six other announced actions was a plan to establish a joint US-China clean energy research center to support research and development by scientists in both countries and act as a clearinghouse. It will be supported by at least $150 million of private and public funding over five years, split evenly between the two countries. US Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Acting Administrator Zhang Guoba signed the protocol in Beijing which formally establishes the center.

The other announced initiatives deal with energy efficiency, electric vehicles, renewable energy, clean coal (including carbon capture and sequestration), and energy project cooperation.

The two presidents discussed a wide range of other issues. But each mentioned energy, climate change, and the environment. “As the two largest consumers and producers of energy, there can be no solution to this challenge without the efforts of both China and the United States,” Obama said. “That's why we've agreed to a series of important new initiatives in this area.”