In popular science in the 70's during or right after the energy crisis. We could be so far ahead but OPEC opened up the floodgates again.

Thermal solar is simple and can be very low tech like the 20'x8' hot water panel on the south wall of my shop.
It heats the concrete floor of my shop with pex pipes cast in it, a huge thermal battery to keep my shop from freezing.

The SOLAR Project consists of the Solar One, Solar Two and Solar Tres solar thermal power plants based in the Mojave Desert, United States and Andalucía, Spain. The US Department of Energy (DOE) and a consortium of US utilities built the country's first two large-scale, demonstration solar power towers in the desert near Barstow, California.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Solar_Project

This didn't go over well with those Petrodollar addicts. At all.

Too bad short term interest usually rules.

Biden proposes banning Chinese vehicles, 'connected car' technology from US roads
By David Shepardson | September 23, 20249:26 AM

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday proposed prohibiting key Chinese software and hardware in connected vehicles on American roads due to national security concerns, a move that would effectively bar Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market.
The planned regulation, first reported by Reuters, would also force American and other major automakers in years ahead to remove key Chinese software and hardware from vehicles in the United States...more, unfortunately
https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/biden-proposes-banning-chinese-vehicles-us-roads-with-software-crackdown-2024-09-23/

But if no one knows about it, no one will care

China leads in EVs. Many different brands to choose from at all price points. Meanwhile we have half the country that believes EVs are terrible, anti-American, freedom killers.

Forty-some years ago Ronald Reagan, newly elected as president, had solar panels removed from the White House. Jimmy Carter recognized the need for alternative energy. Decades were squandered while China turned itself from a backwards, poor country to a technological and economic power.

Guess who owns much of our debt? China. So when you pay your taxes, Uncle Sam send part of it to China who uses it to develop technology.

Check out China's rail system. The modern cities built to replace slums.

But Biden pardoned his son after promising he wouldn't!