How far behind Europe is U.S. in terms of Renewable Energy and High-Speed Rail?

[Just Asking]

Seems to me that the U.S. is years behind Europe and Asia (specifically China and Japan) when it comes to renewable energy deployment and high-speed rail. Too many lobbyists control the political system and they stand in the way of progress. So, how far behind are we?

[coldfuse]

The United States leads the world in wind power installations. We have fallen behind in nuclear power, a remnant of politicization of the technology in the 1970s. We are way behind in high speed rail; there is some sense in that, as rail is more appropriate for densely populated areas. You can't economically link Denver and Los Angeles by high speed rail if there is nothing for a thousand miles in between!

[coldfuse]

The United States leads the world in wind power installations. We have fallen behind in nuclear power, a remnant of politicization of the technology in the 1970s. We are way behind in high speed rail; there is some sense in that, as rail is more appropriate for densely populated areas. You can't economically link Denver and Los Angeles by high speed rail if there is nothing for a thousand miles in between!