China's hunger for energy in the midst of its industrial boom has led the government to aggressively develop land for major hydro, thermal, and renewable energy projects. While China can be applauded for taking steps to use cleaner energy, the ugly side to the development process should always be considered. Recent 'negotiations' between villagers and the government over compensation for land use turned violent in Zhongshan, part of the industrial heartland Guangdong province (though - note - this was not directly linked to wind development).
In the development business, stories of passing envelopes and unconventional lobbying methods are not uncommon. But violent crackdowns of protests against land expropriation are symptomatic of a much larger political issue defining the development environment. Just something to keep in mind if you're signing off on a power supply contract, or sitting in a well-lit new stadium in Beijing around 2008.
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