The U.S. Lags Behind in the Global Solar Boom
▼ Summary
– Solar developers plan to build a massive solar project in Nevada to power Las Vegas and other areas, covering an area larger than Washington, DC.
– U.S. federal officials recently revoked collective approval for the Esmeralda 7 solar projects, potentially slowing renewable energy progress under the Trump administration.
– China has constructed the Talatan Solar Park on the Tibetan Plateau as part of its goal to double solar and wind capacity in the next decade.
– China’s large-scale production of solar panels and batteries has significantly reduced global prices for renewable energy hardware.
– Solar power is expanding rapidly worldwide, including in Africa and the Middle East, due to its affordability and efficiency.
Nestled south of the Monte Cristo mountains and west of Paymaster Canyon, a sprawling section of Nevada desert has become a magnet for contemporary fortune seekers capitalizing on one of America’s most significant investment trends. Solar energy firms plan to install silicon panels and battery storage across a territory exceeding the size of Washington, DC, transforming abundant sunlight into electricity for Las Vegas residents and countless other consumers.
Recent federal land management decisions have stalled collective approval for the Esmeralda 7 solar initiatives, raising concerns among advocates about a broader campaign against renewable power during the Trump administration. The former president publicly opposed what he termed “farmer destroying Solar” on his Truth Social account last August. Now, each development must navigate the permitting process separately, inevitably delaying construction timelines.
Across the Pacific Ocean, China presents a striking contrast. Engineers have blanketed an expanse comparable to Chicago on the Tibetan Plateau with photovoltaic arrays, where elevated altitudes and thinner atmosphere enhance solar radiation absorption. The massive Talatan Solar Park represents just one component of China’s ambitious plan to double its solar and wind power infrastructure within the next ten years. President Xi Jinping recently emphasized to United Nations delegates that “green and low-carbon transition is the trend of our time.”
China’s overwhelming manufacturing scale for solar panels and storage batteries has dramatically reduced global renewable technology costs, making solar power the default economic choice in numerous markets according to International Energy Agency senior analyst Heymi Bahar. The IEA’s 2010 projection of 410 gigawatts of worldwide solar capacity by 2035 has been vastly exceeded, with current installations quadrupling that estimate and China accounting for approximately half the total.
Even traditional oil-producing nations are embracing solar technology at an accelerating pace. From African nations to Middle Eastern petrostates including Saudi Arabia, photovoltaic projects are proliferating rapidly. Energy strategist Kingsmill Bond from the Ember think tank observes that solar power now represents “a very cheap way to harness the sun,” driving its adoption across diverse economic landscapes.
(Source: Ars Technica)