China Overtakes US as World’s Biggest Energy Consumer

China has surpassed the US in energy usage, making it the world’s biggest energy consumer. The International Energy Agency, based in France, reported that the nation’s use of coal, oil, wind and other sources of energy reached the equivalent of 2.26 billion tons of oil in 2009, nearly double its usage a decade ago. This surge has implications for the global market, including stress on the environment and increased fuel prices. China’s rush for nuclear power plants already contributes to record prices for uranium. This article from the Guardian reports that the average person in China uses about 25 percent of the energy used by the average US citizen – so rising demand is expected to continue. But recognizing that supplies of oil, gas, coal and uranium are limited, the Chinese also pursue efficiency. – YaleGlobal