Political Climate

US vs China: Who's Winning the Energy Race?

Sep 22, 2025
Join global energy policy expert Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of the Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab at NYU, as she dissects the intense U.S.–China energy rivalry. They delve into China's manufacturing dominance in solar and EVs versus the U.S.’s fossil fuel prowess. Amy highlights the strategic significance of battery technology and the implications for national security. Listeners will learn about the contrasting approaches of each country and the critical role of policy and innovation in shaping future energy leadership.
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ANECDOTE

Mixed Vibes At RE+ Conference

  • Neil recounts RE+ rooms varying from doom-laden to bullish, showing sector sentiment is fragmented.
  • Different event agendas produced either pessimism or cautious optimism about clean energy markets.
ANECDOTE

Industry Learns Political Engagement

  • Julia describes RE+ industry debates where companies realized they can't sit out politics and must engage strategically.
  • Industry sessions shifted toward strategy planning on how to communicate and survive policy changes.
INSIGHT

Manufacturing Scale Trumps Lab Leads

  • China leads in manufacturing scale for batteries, solar, EVs and many clean-tech components even if not far ahead in lab R&D.
  • The U.S. lags on factory capacity and supply chains, creating a strategic vulnerability beyond pure technology.
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