America certainly has energy-security and possible environmental concerns that merit diversifying energy sources.

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However, the rising costs of coal and oil and the increasing focus on sustainable sources of energy amidst growing environmental concerns has triggered a change in this trend.

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And discussions of how China can shift to cleaner sources of energy also are part of expanding environmental and energy-related talks that began earlier this year when Vice President Al Gore visited China, the officials said.

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Alternative livelihoods such as ecotourism and fish farming could provide an alternative to intensive crop farming, while better management of crops and irrigation and the adoption of alternative energy sources such as solar power would all contribute to environmental sustainability.

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Administration sources tell CNN they expect progress on several energy and environmental issues to emerge from the U.S.-China summit.

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China, whose planning prowess for the past three decades may be unmatched by any other nation, has done the math and concluded a serious commitment to alternative energy sources is critical to meeting its power needs while also reducing environmental harm.

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In contrast, maximizing emerging energy-efficient technologies and water-wise renewable energy sources ( biofuels, wind, and solar in particular) enhance disaster resilience and environmental protection.

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Further complicating the picture for all of these rival energy sources is uncertainty about what kind of new carbon regulations might come from Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Environmental groups and many politicians in Washington insist that the U.S. must lead the effort to develop renewable energy sources, with wind, solar and biomass being the lead components.

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Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth would like to see a switch to renewable and clean sources of energy such as solar, wind and hydro-electric power.

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