China to raise renewable energy use

In a national plan announced yesterday, China pledged to increase its use of renewable resources to 15% of total energy consumption, state media reported. The plan, which calls for the further development and expanded use of hydropower, wind power, biomass and solar energy, aims for the equivalent of 600 million tons of coal from renewable resources by 2020. In 2005, renewable energy accounted for 7.5% of China's total energy consumption. The plan is estimated to cost US$267 billion.