Good point ZenDog. I will write more on this in coming months, but I think community action against fossil fuels is a crucial part of the puzzle and the more the better - it creates higher costs for them and makes them less competitive.

Of course tipping points are defined by the person calling them ! Fossil fuels are still expanding in many markets as you point out. But I think the tide has turned overall (for example huge collapse in forecast growth of coal use in developing countries) See here http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/03/20/energy-coal-prices-idINL6N0MH30Y20140320

Sure, China is subsidising things as everyone does (Worldwide subsidies for fossil fuels are (from memory) over $500 billion, not counting externalities). They are no longer however racing to the bottom environmentally. They are overall a positive force in renewables, driving mass production and therefore allowing huge growth in installations (where most of the jobs are btw) in the US and other rich countries.

We can't compete on manufacturing when things go to mass production so we have to compete on higher end products, that applies to all things, not just renewables.

I'm very positive about China on energy (vs most people who just see coal but I see the response being game changing.

G'day Hubski. Paul Gilding here, author of the article above. Someone Steve (twitter Clausnitzercan) kindly suggested I drop in. I'm a bit flat out responding to lots of reactions to this piece around the world so can't go through and respond to all the comments here, but within reason I'm happy to answer some direct questions if that's useful? If not, then enjoy the discussion - clearly a bunch of interesting and bright people hang around here.