Rare earth may determine the future of clean energy. I'm not talking about the classic rock band. This is about potential world domination by China of an industry so important, it's success or failure may mean the difference between survival and mass evacuation in low-lying countries like Bangladesh. Rare earth, with names like lanthanum, cerium, yttrium and neodymium, are used in the manufacture of electric car batteries, wind turbines and solar panels.