April 12, 2012. U.S. government policies are creating a "boom-and-bust" in renewable energy investment, threaten a lead the nation regained over China for the technologies. U.S. investment reached $48.1 billion in 2011, largely in wind and solar power. Those funds trumped the $45.5 billion China allocated to renewables, for lead for the U.S. since 2008. The jump to the top of the G-20 ranking followed developers' efforts to finish projects before incentives expire. With China taking on long-term renewable energy targets and an American tax-break for wind lapsing in 2012, the U.S. again risks losing its edge.