Solar News - China Leaps Forward While US Falls Back - CleanTechnica

The article highlights China's rapid advancement in renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, contrasting it with the United States' lagging efforts. In May 2025 alone, China installed 93 GW of solar capacity and 26 GW of wind, equating to the energy needs of entire countries like Poland, Indonesia, or Turkey. China now boasts over 1,000 GW of installed solar capacity, nearly half of the global total. This growth is part of a deliberate national strategy to replace coal-fired power plants with renewables, despite China being the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter. The Chinese government fosters a highly competitive market environment where renewable energy companies must succeed without bailouts, leading to significant financial losses for major solar firms but driving industry consolidation and efficiency. In contrast, the U.S. is extending the life of aging coal plants and dismantling plans to phase out coal, undermining its clean energy transition. The article criticizes the U.S. political landscape, particularly Senate Republicans who are pushing to