China Leads the World in Wind Power Infrastructure

Trump's criticism of China's wind power misses the bigger strategic picture of the global energy transition.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 7:47pm

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A recent article examines the reasons behind China's rapid development of wind power infrastructure, which far outpaces the United States. The article argues that this is not just about wind power, but a deeper competition over computing power, data, and artificial intelligence that will shape the 21st century geopolitical landscape. China's large-scale investment in renewable energy is laying the foundation for its future digital economy and smart infrastructure, while the U.S. remains mired in political polarization and lack of long-term planning.

Why it matters

The competition over wind power infrastructure is a proxy for a larger battle over computing power, data, and artificial intelligence - the core competitiveness of great power competition in the 21st century. Whoever can build a large-scale, low-cost clean energy system will have an advantage in powering the future digital economy and AI computing needs.

The details

China has rapidly built out over 600 GW of wind power capacity, ranking first globally for 15 consecutive years. This includes massive projects like the 1 GW Kubuqi Desert Base, the 850 MW Dafeng offshore wind farm, and the country's first 1 million kW offshore wind farm. These projects integrate advanced technologies like energy storage and smart grids. In contrast, the U.S. has struggled to build similar large-scale wind infrastructure due to political polarization, fragmented governance, capital market short-termism, and declining engineering capabilities.

  • As of the end of November 2025, China's installed wind power capacity has exceeded 600 million kilowatts.
  • The Kubuqi Desert Base Wind Power Project is expected to be completed in 2025.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

Rainbow Grocery Cooperative

A local food natural foods grocery store, organized as an employee-owned co-op and born out of a 1970s grassroots natural food movement calling for access to nutritious and organic food.

Gordon Edgar

A 31-year employee who oversees Rainbow's cheese counter.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.