Beijing swings behind gas use

摘要

The return of winter smogs to north China has rekindled interest in natural gas as a power generation fuel. But it may ultimately be the cost to the government of subsidising renewable energy that does more to boost gas use. Urban air quality has turned miasmic again, following the rise in coal burn that marks China's heating season, sparking public protests. Airborne pollutant intensity, measured by the air quality index, routinely breaches 500 micrograms/ m~3 in northern industrial cities, such as Zibo in east China's refining hub, Shandong province, and steel town Shijiazhuang - 10 times levels considered safe.