At the cost of air quality. People are getting used to cleaner air. It's hard to go back.
Also the more solar they use, the more coal they can keep around for emergencies. The sun is free energy.
In 2025 China recorded a decline in generation from coal for the first time ever. [1]
1. https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/china/#data
If that's the case, then why is the US going back on its renewables commitment?
If China could always be energy independent with coal, why did they even build out solar and EV capability?
At the cost of air quality. People are getting used to cleaner air. It's hard to go back.
Also the more solar they use, the more coal they can keep around for emergencies. The sun is free energy.
In 2025 China recorded a decline in generation from coal for the first time ever. [1]
1. https://ember-energy.org/countries-and-regions/china/#data