Law on Energy Conservation (promulgated on November 1, 1997, effective January 1, 1998)

Selected provisions:

Article 5 The state makes energy conservation policies and compiles energy conservation plans, which shall be incorporated into the national social and economic development plan, consistent with economic development and environmental protection.

Article 9 the State Council and local governments at various levels should enhance their leadership in energy conservation, and on an annual basis deploy, coordinate, supervise, review, and promote energy conservation efforts.

Article 10 The State Council and People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government should, according to the principle of giving importance to energy conservation and energy exploitation, putting energy conservation first, choose in an optimal way energy conservation and energy exploitation investment projects, and develop energy investment plans, based on a technical, economic, and environmental assessment of energy conservation and energy exploitation.

Article 11 The State Council and People's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall arrange energy conservation funds from capital construction and technical retrofit funds to support rational energy utilization and exploitation of new and renewable energy sources.

Article 12 assessment of rational energy utilization should be included in the feasibility analysis reports of fixed capital investment projects.

Article 13 New Industrial projects that employ backward technology, consume excessive amounts of energy, and waste energy significantly are prohibited from being constructed.