CHINA HAS GAS...

The news is that a 2.9% reduction in coal use and a 2.5% increase in natural gas use over 5 years is news.

China to rely more on cleaner energy like natural gas by 2010
April 11, 2007 (AFP via Yahoo News)

WHO
China’s National Development and Reform Commission

WHAT
China announced its intention to shift a portion of its reliance on coal to natural gas.

WHEN
Coal was 69% of China’s energy consumption in 2005; the goal is to reduce that to 66.1% of energy consumption by 2010. Natural gas will increase from 18% to 20.5% of the national energy mix by 2010. This is considered an important news story by "China Daily", an organ of the state press.

WHERE
Throughout China.

WHY
Natural gas consumption produces approximately one-fourth the carbon dioxide as coal consumption. China has the announced goal for 2010 to reduce, from 2005 levels, energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent and pollution by 10 percent.

QUOTES
The National Development and Reform Commission website: “…the extensive use of coal ‘brought lots of environmental and social problems, posing severe challenges to the sustainable development of the economy and society.’”