Has China Already Won The Clean Energy Race?

More than a decade ago, back in 2010, Scientific American asked, “Is the U.S. Falling Behind in the Clean Energy Race?” In the twelve years following, that question has been answered: unequivocally, yes. While other countries around the world have been developing renewable energy technology as their best hope at energy independence and security, the United States has been enjoying a flood of cheap domestic shale oil and gas. The shale revolution allowed the country to be energy independent for the first time since 1957, and turning its back on shale in favor of nascent and pricey technologies seemed unthinkable.But then renewables got cheap. And as solar and wind have taken over and transformed the energy industry, The United States has found itself holding on to an anachronistic energy infrastructure that has become decreasingly relevant on the global stage. Now, while solar and…

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