Offshore wind turbines in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province, on July 4 [Photo by Wang Jiliang/js.people.cn]

Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province has been transforming itself into a green energy area for 15 years.

In 2004, the county was granted its first franchise license to install offshore wind turbines, marking the beginning of a new chapter for its new energy industry.

According to the local government, the number of new energy enterprises in Rudong has increased from 1 to 83 in the past 15 years, generating 4.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and providing 81.4 percent of all electricity in the area.

Statistics show that the taxable turnover of green energy equipment has surpassed 25 billion yuan ($3.63 billion) over the past 15 years, accounting for 17.2 percent of the county's total taxable industrial turnover.

In recent years, the county has stepped up efforts to promote its wind power programs. It has established 18 wind power farms with a total installed capacity of over 1.8 million kW.

Cai Hua, an officer at the development and reform department of Rudong county, said that the county is now building a wind power industrial park at Xiangyangkou Port.

According to Cai, the industrial park is designed to develop the wind power equipment, storage, transportation, and maintenance industries in order to help wind power companies in the area.

Rudong county has made green development its priority. Its clean energy industries, including wind power, photovoltaic power, and geothermal power, have experienced rapid growth.

“With its abundant wind power resources, Rudong is determined to become a an example to the rest of the country of how to develop clean energy,” said Shen Junfeng, Party chief of the county.

A wind power industrial park is under construction in Rudong county, Nantong, Jiangsu province, July 4. [Photo by Wang Jiliang/js.people.cn]