ABSTRACT
Baoding is known as a low-carbon city in the international community. This chapter explains Baoding’s story, following key actors who have promoted green development for years and defined it as a local development strategy. Local context is a key to understanding a place’s green development. On the one hand, it highlights the ecological crisis in the Baiyangdian Lake and the serious air pollution in the city. On the other hand, it describes the local officials’ willingness to change the reality of poverty and pursue better economic development with high-tech industries. The ecological crisis and economic development problems have triggered conflicts which have led to cooperation among local officials and entrepreneurs. The chapter explores how to build a solar city, and how to encourage Electric Valley of China to define the new local culture. Baoding started planning a solar city in 2007, to promote the applications of solar energy in lighting, hot water, and heating.
