We're #3! U.S. falls behind China, Germany in clean energy

[Bluebear]

The United States slipped one spot to third place in clean-energy investment last year despite President Obama's push to promote non-p0lluting sources of power, says a report Tuesday.

Until 2008, the U.S. had held the top spot, but it has since been eclipsed by China, which ranks no. 1, and Germany, which has taken over the no. 2 spot, according to the report "Who's Winning the Clean Energy Race" by the Pew Charitable Trusts, an independent, non-profit group.

"The United States' position as a leading destination for clean energy investment is declining because its policy framework is weak and uncertain," Phyllis Cuttino, director of Pew's Clean Energy Program, said in announcing the findings. She warns the U.S. could fall further behind as competitors adopt renewable energy standard and incentives for investing in solar, wind and other forms of clean energy.

The Democratic-led Congress failed last year to pass a comprehensive energy and climate bill that would have required polluters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. The Environmental Protection Agency is now moving to regulate those emissions, but the new GOP-controlled House is seeking to stop that.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/pew-us-third-behind-china-germany-clean-energy/1

[Bluebear]

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