China supplants US in renewable-energy investor ranking

China overtook the US on an index ranking countries’ respective attractiveness for renewable energy projects for the first time, Bloomberg reported. The index, compiled by Ernst & Young, showed China shared the leading place with the US in the first quarter then overtaking it in the second. The change in rank is attributed to the failure of the US Congress to impose clean energy requirements on US utility companies in contrast to Beijing’s strong policy support for renewable energy projects. China’s policy support is becoming an increasing cause of trade friction, however. Today the US-based United Steelworkers union said it will file a trade case against "protectionist and predatory practices" employed by China to support its clean energy sector.