There are serious misconceptions regarding China's energy and environmental performance and what it means for the U.S. China is indeed spending a great deal of money on clean energy, but it is doing so largely in response to its own policy errors. The combined results of this spending and these errors are abysmal-waste, below-average gains in energy efficiency, lack of innovation, greater dependence on foreign sources, and a terrible record on the environment.

American misconceptions arise from the fact the Beijing has succeeded in one important area: green energy jobs. For the sake of jobs, Congress can choose to follow China's example, but the costs would be prohibitive. Not just money but efficiency, innovation, even environmental protection would have to suffer for the sake of employment. The U.S. boasts a far better energy and environmental record than China, and moving in China's direction would be very risky.