Will China win renewables race while US pivots to fossil fuels and nuclear?
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically reverses American support for clean energy in a world racing towards decarbonisation
The legislation’s supporters say it is a bold attempt to secure energy independence, arguing that the US must close technological gaps and mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities that could hand additional strategic leverage to Beijing.
In this view, China’s clean tech manufacturing dominance and control over critical minerals – essential to renewable technologies from solar panels and wind turbines to EV batteries – have left the US exposed to supply disruptions and geopolitical manipulation.
Critics argue that the act prioritises short-term security and economic gains over long-term sustainability and global competitiveness – potentially ceding US leadership in the clean energy transition and threatening the planet’s climate future.