On October 25, 2024, a report revealed that U.S. utilities have relied on fossil fuels for 62.4% of their electricity production over the past four months, surpassing China's 60.5% during the same period. This trend raises concerns about the U.S.'s leadership in energy transition efforts.
The data, sourced from energy think tank Ember, indicates that while U.S. fossil fuel reliance peaked during high summer demand, China's lower fossil fuel use coincided with an economic slowdown. This situation highlights China's more aggressive expansion of clean energy output, bringing it closer to reaching its peak fossil fuel usage.
Despite a 16% increase in clean energy output in the U.S. since 2019, the rising overall power demand has limited reductions in fossil fuel generation. From January to September 2024, U.S. fossil fuel-fired generation decreased by only 0.8% compared to the same period in 2019.
China, on the other hand, has seen a 37% increase in electricity consumption since 2019, prompting a significant rise in both fossil fuel and clean energy generation. Fossil fuel output in China has increased by 23%, while clean energy generation has surged by 67%, indicating a rapid transition towards cleaner energy sources.
To address the fossil fuel reliance, U.S. power producers have increased clean generation capacity by 40% between 2018 and 2023. However, this capacity still lags behind fossil fuel capacity, which poses challenges for the U.S. in establishing itself as a leader in climate action.