The US risks losing ground in the growing renewable energy market as other countries invest heavily in solar, wind and battery technologies while the Trump administration prioritizes oil and gas production.
Somini Sengupta reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Nations such as China, Saudi Arabia and European Union countries are ramping up renewable energy investments, while US policies promote fossil fuels.
- China leads in solar and wind projects, driving down global costs and setting up electric vehicle factories worldwide.
- Experts warn US policies could cede economic and technological leadership to other nations, particularly China.
Key quote:
“Purely on economic and security grounds it is simply contrary to the US national interest to restrict the continued growth of clean energy technologies.”
— Kelly Sims Gallagher, dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University
Why this matters:
As renewable energy costs plummet and nations around the world pivot to clean energy, the United States risks losing its edge in a sector poised to define the 21st-century economy. Wind and solar power, once viewed as prohibitively expensive, now outcompete fossil fuels in many markets, driving record global investment in renewables. Failure to lead in renewables could deepen America’s reliance on fossil fuels, perpetuating greenhouse gas emissions and undermining global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Such dependence also leaves the economy vulnerable to fluctuations in oil and gas markets, a growing risk as global demand for these fuels declines.
Read more: Trump seeks to prioritize fossil fuels while rolling back renewable energy efforts
