WTO Ruling Against India's Solar Push Threatens Climate, Clean Energy

[eridani]

If we need rules like this to engage in trade, the FUCK TRADE!! However, I strongly suspect that humans have been trading with each other for a very long time without rules like this.

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/08/27/wto-ruling-against-indias-solar-push-threatens-climate-clean-energy


The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Wednesday ruled against India over its national solar energy program in a case brought by the U.S. government, sparking outrage from labor and environmental advocates.

As power demands grow in India, the country's government put forth a plan to create 100,000 megawatts of energy from solar cells and modules, and included incentives to domestic manufacturers to use locally-developed equipment.

According to Indian news outlets, the WTO ruled that India had discriminated against American manufacturers by providing such incentives, which violates global trade rules, and struck down those policies—siding with the U.S. government in a case that the Sierra Club said demonstrates the environmentally and economically destructive power of pro-corporate deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

"Today, we have more evidence of how free trade rules threaten the clean energy economy and undermine action to tackle the climate crisis," Ilana Solomon, director of the Sierra Club's Responsible Trade Program, said on Thursday. "The U.S. should be applauding India’s efforts to scale up solar energy—not turning to the WTO to strike the program down."

[octoberlib]

1. They're trying to do the right thing

but we're just not gonna let them, are we? This is why the planet is screwed.

[djean111]

2. Waiting for the Free Trade TPP shills to tell us why this is the right thing to do.

This does not even meet that obviously fucking bogus argument that we are leveling the playing field for the less fortunate.

We are just guaranteeing corporate profits over people and the planet.

And anyone who thinks it is okay because WE WON is, IMO, just sick. Just sick. Funny how some get all jingoistic one day, and then maunder on about poor Vietnamese farmers the next. This free trade cancer is not going to be used for good, just used for corporate profit. And the corporate profit does not trickle down. Not one bit.

[kristopher]

3. The critics are wrong.

First, the installation of solar isn't being attacked. What is at issue is the 'local content' stipulation of the program.

Second, their transmission capabilities are severely constrained and the amount of time and money needed to upgrade the transmission system is much greater than pushing growth in distributed solar. The solar program the government is engaged in is Needed to provide Power and will be built to service that need - the WTO case will not derail plans to grow solar in India.

Third, the effect of ruling against the local content requirement will be More Solar, not less. These programs usually have a cost limit. So, simply put, the money allocated to promote a buildout of solar will buy more panels if the panels cost less. This means that the fight against climate change is the winner, not the loser.

Finally, the true cost in this case is going to be paid by India's domestic solar manufacturing sector. They lose jobs.

No, I do not support the TPP. I'm sharing this because it is important to know what is actually happening or your criticisms will be rejected out of hand.