It's news because the US is a big time laggard in renewables for a variety of terrible reasons. (Mostly oil/coal lobbying and utility monopolies stifling competition.)
Could you clarify this statement?
For Solar, the US seems to be doing fine. Not leading, but not a laggard by any definition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_by_country
And in total capacity:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/267233/renewable-energy-...
Solar & wind are the cheapest energy sources by far, and battery tech has gotten much better and much cheaper very quickly. The free market in the US is very responsive, AFAIK we're building new renewable capacity as quickly as it can be attached to the grid.
Competition is progress.