19 January 2011: The US and China expanded their EcoPartnership programme with the admission of two more partnerships related to energy efficiency demonstration projects and research on lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The first EcoPartnership involves the City of Charlotte, North Carolina, US, and Duke Energy with the City of Langfang, Hebei Province, China, and ENN/Xin’ao Group. It aims to: exchange policy best practices, such as renewable portfolio standards; carry out joint demonstration projects, such as residential building efficiency demonstrations; and conduct trials for innovative clean energy technologies, such as exploring more effective ways to deploy smart meters. The second EcoPartnership involves Case Western Reserve University and the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation to research new energy efficiency techniques and new methods of lowering GHG emissions.

The US and China signed the Framework for EcoPartnerships under the US-China Ten-year Framework for Cooperation on Energy and Environment in Beijing, China, in December 2008. [US Press Release][EcoPartnership Website]