U.S. solar industry faces setbacks due to Trump's aversion towards wind energy in Scotland, echoing China's mockery
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The Trump administration's energy policies have significantly hindered the growth of the US solar and wind industries, while China's renewable energy sector has continued robust growth.
Regulatory Clampdowns
Under the Trump administration, the Interior Department increased scrutiny and delays on permitting and approvals for wind and solar projects, especially those involving federal lands. This includes a new policy mandating heightened review of projects affecting endangered species, road access, and rights-of-way, effectively bottlenecking many renewables projects.
Policy Rollbacks
The administration dismantled federal policies designed to expand renewables, including rolling back clean energy tax credits established by the Inflation Reduction Act. Critical tax credits for renewables are set to expire in 2027, and new foreign content rules have raised costs of solar and wind projects.
Project Halts and Litigation
Specific large-scale projects such as offshore wind farms off New Jersey and wind projects in New York faced permit remands and work stoppages ordered by the EPA and Interior Department. The administration also tried to freeze green energy spending approved during the previous administration, causing legal challenges.
Economic and Job Loss Threats
Analysts and industry advocates warn these policies risk tens of thousands of clean energy jobs and threaten the economic growth potential tied to renewable energy. The industry faces major vulnerability as political and regulatory support wanes.
In stark contrast, China's renewable energy growth has surged during this time, driven by state-led investments, supportive policies, and a strategic focus on dominating the global clean energy supply chain and infrastructure. While the US winds down support and erects barriers, China continues to rapidly scale solar and wind capacity, reinforcing its global leadership position in renewables.
The opposition is increasingly moving to state and local levels to counteract these federal restrictions, as the battle over renewable energy’s future shifts away from Washington.
Trump's Visit to Scotland Sparks Protests
On July 25, 2021, Donald Trump is visiting Scotland to inaugurate a golf course named "MacLeod Course" in Aberdeen. However, his visit is politically explosive, despite being officially in a private capacity. Resistance is forming in Scotland against Trump's visit, with protests planned in Aberdeen and elsewhere.
References
- BloombergNEF
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- Solar Energy Industries Association
- Wind Energy Foundation
- International Energy Agency
- The regulatory clampdowns under the Trump administration slowed the expansion of the US solar and wind industries, in contrast to China's robust growth in renewable energy.
- Policy rollbacks, such as the dismantling of clean energy tax credits, have threatened the economic growth potential and job stability in the US renewable energy sector.
- The opposition to federal restrictions on renewable energy is moving to state and local levels, shifting the battle over renewables' future from Washington.
- The Trump administration's visit to Scotland in 2021 sparked protests, highlighting the political controversy surrounding his international business ventures.
- Analysts and industry advocates are closely monitoring the financing and investment landscape in both the US and Chinese renewable energy sectors, given the differing policy approaches between the two countries.
