We’ve been keeping a keen eye on China’s interest (and growing influence) in clean technology. From its massive wind energy projects and construction of the world’s greenest skyscraper in Guangdong Province to its heavy reliance on coal, China is certainly still straddling two worlds. But, as Thomas Friedman summed it up, China is going green out of necessity, because “unless China powers its development with cleaner energy systems, and more knowledge-intensive businesses without smokestacks, China will die of its own development.”

We spotted a recent article from Reuters that went further in arguing that the global race to develop clean technology is “shaping up as a contest between Chinese-style capitalism and the more market-oriented approach fancied by the United States and Europe.”

The article continues, “Beijing’s top leaders have made clear their intention to have their nation dominate this new industry, up and down the value ladder. And in their quest for the prize, they are not burdened by concerns facing their Western counterparts–such as the impact of wind turbines on landscapes, higher energy prices for consumers, or investor returns.”

Will the West’s efforts to create meaningful clean tech advances be hamstrung by special interests, recession and the ‘luxury’ of free and open debate about climate change? Will clean tech be China’s moon shot? China may well ride this combination of necessity (go green or “die of it’s own development”) and authoritarian control (a “cozy relationship” between state-owned utilities, grid companies and banks) to clean tech dominance.

The article asks ‘Can The West Prevail?’ Many in the West still “believe the United States still has an advantage in innovation. The owner of patents, not factories, will likely earn the biggest profits and win the technology race.”

Time to start innovating!