Sino-US project raises ire of senator

WASHINGTON: A US Democratic senator is calling on the Obama administration to reject an expected request for federal economic stimulus money from a $1.5 billion West Texas wind energy project because he says it will generate Chinese, not American, jobs.

The US-China venture, announced last week, calls for 240 huge Chinese-made wind turbines on 36,000 acres in West Texas, with the Export-Import Bank of China committed to handle most of the financing.

But Democratic Sen Charles Schumer said the project may also be seeking 30 percent funding from economic stimulus grants from the Energy Department - funds he said would be used to buy turbines and other components made in a Chinese plant.