China approves renewable energy zone in Zhangjiakou city

The State Council, or China's cabinet, has approved the establishment of a renewable energy demonstration zone in Zhangjiakou city, which is jointly bidding with Beijing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics.

The city, some 200 kilometers away from Beijing, boasts rich wind and solar resources and is one of the country's planned new energy bases.

The city plans to build a low-carbon Olympic area in the demonstration zone, which aims to fully rely on renewable energy to provide electricity to the Olympic center and venues.

By 2020, 55 percent of the power consumption in the demonstration zone will come from renewable energy, and 40 percent of the industrial companies will realize zero carbon emissions, according to the plan.

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. Almaty, Kazakhstan, is the other candidate city vying for the event.

The International Olympic Committee will announce the vote on the host city on July 31 in Kuala Lumpur. Endi