Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Jul 8: The United States is falling behind developing Asian nations in the global race to electrify, according to a new report by clean energy think tank Ember. Countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are advancing rapidly in integrating electricity—especially from solar and wind—into their energy systems, while the US and Europe have shown stagnation since 2000.

The report underscores how countries such as China have doubled electricity’s share in their primary energy mix to nearly 25%, compared to minimal growth in the US. The shift is driven by a combination of economic strategy and necessity, particularly among Asian nations heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports.

“Electrification is the more consequential race today,” said Daan Walter, an Ember researcher. He explained that increasing electricity use not only improves operational efficiency and reduces costs, but also boosts job creation in sectors like electric vehicle manufacturing and heat-pump installation.

The report emerges as the US Senate debates a new tax and spending bill. A faction of Republican lawmakers is pushing to phase out subsidies for wind and solar and to impose an excise tax on renewable projects using components from China and other so-called “foreign entities of concern.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a former ally of Donald Trump, slammed the proposal on his social media platform X, warning that the policy could “destroy millions of jobs in America” and make the country “extremely vulnerable” in the clean energy future.

Critics argue that the US, despite being the world’s top oil and natural gas producer, lacks the economic drive to electrify as rapidly as energy-importing nations. Yet, the rising electricity demand—particularly due to AI-driven data center consumption—is placing new pressure on America’s aging grid and slow supply chain for essential components like transformers and cables.

Meanwhile, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and others are making significant headway in renewable energy’s share of their power mix. Vietnam and Indonesia lead in electrification progress, with new manufacturing capacities helping to meet the growing demand for basic grid infrastructure.

Walter warned that wealthy nations risk missing a major economic opportunity. “Renewables can make electricity cheaper,” he said. “Electrification upgrades the everyday technologies households rely on – cars, heating, and control systems – and delivers savings.”

As the debate over tax policy and energy strategy intensifies in Washington, the contrast with fast-moving Asian economies has become increasingly stark.