China cuts nuclear goal, raises solar goal after Japan meltdowns; Halting CO2 regulations will help China

China, the world’s biggest energy consumer, will cut its 2020 target for nuclear power capacity and build more solar farms following Japan’s atomic crisis, said an official at the National Development and Reform Commission.

The country will reduce its nuclear capacity goal of 80 gigawatts, Ren Dongmin, the head of the economic planner’s renewable energy development, said at a Beijing conference, without giving a new target. The goal for solar-power capacity will increase from the current target of 20 gigawatts.