Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin may not really be able to see Russia from her backyard, but California’s connections with China become more visible every day.

While the U.S. economy contracts, China’s expands. Experts say the nation is building one to two coal-fired power plants per week– and the drifting pollution impacts California’s air quality. The World Bank estimates more than half the world’s construction will happen in China by 2015.

Del Rey Oaks filmmaker Caroline Harrison and her colleagues see a bright spot in the smog. The Chinese government requires cities to halve their buildings’ energy use by 2010; many projects meet LEED green building standards.

In 2007, Harrison and two Monterey Institute of International Studies graduate students co-produced The Green Dragon, a documentary of China’s green construction boom. Harrison filmed, Max Perelman researched, and River Yun Lu facilitated the details.

The 35-minute documentary attracted press across the United States, China and Europe. Now, Harrison– a U.K. native who has worked for the British Broadcast Network and Sea Studios in Monterey– is co-producing a new TV series, Red Hot Green China, highlighting the green building revolution.

Her team last visited China in November, with plans to return at the end of January for the Chinese New Year. The high-definition footage will focus on the green urbanization process, and China’s emergence as an “eco-civilization.” It also highlights the work of JUCCCE, China’s leading green energy nonprofit, where Lu– a partner in the RHGC project– is now employed.

“The reality is that there are some extraordinary things happening in China,” Harrison says. “They’re moving at a breakneck pace towards going green. They’ve still got an enormous way to go, but it makes so much sense to form bridges and communicate.”

Meanwhile Perelman, a Pacific Grove planning commissioner, is contributing to a straw bale construction project on China’s Tibetan Plateau. He’s also collaborating with Harrison on an online film, Shall We Green, showcasing the eco-elements of Perelman’s P.G. home.

“If we can be that tangible example, people can make a more educated decision,” he says.