China approves renewable energy zone in Winter Olympics candidate city

BEIJING -- The State Council has given the green-light for the creation of a renewable energy zone in the city of Zhangjiakou, which is part of the Beijing bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Under the plan, Zhangjiakou will be home to a low-carbon Olympic area which will be run completely on renewable energy.

Wu Weidong, executive vice-mayor of Zhangjiakou, says the creation of the zone will also improve the environment in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. "Zhangjiakou can improve its environment by building this renewable energy demonstration area. And at the same time, it can transport clean renewable energy to Beijing and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, an important part promoting the region's development."

According to the plan, by 2020, 55 percent of electricity consumption should be met by renewable energy and 40 percent of industrial enterprises should realize zero carbon emissions.

All of the city's public transportation will be fueled by renewable energy within five years.

As Beijing's partner in the Winter Olympic bid, Zhangjiakou is expected to host the biathlon, Nordic combined, ski jumping, snowboard, and freestyle skiing events.