One of the subjects that I have grown more interested in, and worried by, is the fact that while developing sustainable economic and environmental models are in everyone’s best interests there are those who wish to look at things in a different light.

That, rather that developing technologies with a priority of solving environmental failures on a global level, there are those who are still focused on the fact that there may be others better positioned to manufacture those goods…. others, are concerned with IP ownership over access to the benefits of the technologies

It is what I feel a trend that points towards a head on collision between old school economic policies and policy makers who look to bring economic benefit their way, and that distribution of technologies and products that offer benefits to all. A trend highlighted in the istockanalyst report China takes a firm stand against solar anti-dumping investigations:

It has been reported that SunPower from the US and Conergy and SolarWorld from Germany are lobbying local governments to open anti-dumping investigations, claiming subsidies and direct investment from Chinese government.

[...]

Yu Ruozhen, of solar module exporter Phono Solar Technology, said, “Chinese solar cell and module makers have taken advantage of the low costs brought by the financial crisis and never practice dumping in overseas markets.”

Yu said the company would certainly take defensive measures when something threatens its business. As China’s sixth largest exporter of solar products, Phono Solar exports about 30 percent of its output or 200 million euros in value of solar modules to Germany each year.

It is a report that follows a number of others, and my primary concern in all of this is that (like the recent tire case) any decision that increased the cost of Chinese panels would ultimately increase in the cost of solar panels.

A situation where no one wins.

So, what is the goal?  Is it jobs, IP ownership, and IPOs, or is it bringing to market products that can be widely distributed into the market?  Should the US market based model be the one that determines the pricing of technologies, or should China’s?  Both countries have subsidies that support the market, both have a need for more panels to be installed, but is that enough?