Absolutely, it is a step in the right direction. But the small jump in efficiency from say 40% to 55% doesn't really do anything. You've still got a carbon foot

Absolutely, it is a step in the right direction. But the small jump in efficiency from say 40% to 55% doesn't really do anything. You've still got a carbon footprint that is non-zero. Unless you convince society to build zero-carbon electrical generation it's the equivalent of the British calling the American Revolutionary War a victory on their part. The difference is purely political, societal, and cultural. None of which can change the laws of physics. My observation is United States society simply doesn't want or care about zero carbon electrical generation. Nuclear fission was figured out a long time ago & we basically never built any significant capacity in that regard. Fossil fuels are cheap, which means cheap energy.