The article discusses the concept of zero net energy use in buildings and cities, highlighting various projects around the world aimed at achieving this goal. Fort Collins, Colorado, is featured prominently with its FortZED project, which aims to create a zero energy district. The city is part of a Department of Energy pilot program testing distributed-energy technologies, including gas turbines and solar arrays. The article also mentions European initiatives like R2Cities, EU-GUGLE, and ZenN, which focus on retrofitting buildings to significantly reduce energy use. Additionally, the Pertamina Energy Tower in Jakarta is noted as a future zero-energy skyscraper. The challenges of such projects include securing investment, consumer participation, and setting appropriate tariffs. The Rocky Mountain Institute has highlighted the visionary nature of these projects but also the uncertainties involved in financing and resource allocation.

The article discusses the involvement of Yingli Solar, a major solar panel manufacturer, in the World Cup as a sponsor, and uses this as a segue into the broader issue of trade disputes between Chinese solar companies and Western governments. The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed preliminary tariffs on Chinese solar panel makers, accusing them of selling products at dumping prices due to state subsidies. The European Union and companies like SolarWorld have also been involved in legal actions against Chinese manufacturers. The article explores the debate over what constitutes a subsidy and whether the U.S. provides similar support to its solar industry. It also touches on the internal division within the U.S. solar sector regarding the tariffs and the broader context of China's push for solar energy to combat air pollution and reduce reliance on coal.