Science Friday Can The Rise In Solar Power Balance Out Clean Energy Cuts?
20 snips
Aug 21, 2025 
Bill McKibben, a climate activist and founder of Third Act, dives into the solar power revolution and its potential to reshape energy landscapes. He highlights the surge in solar installations in states like Texas and California amidst federal rollbacks. The discussion also covers global advancements, particularly in China, and the urgency of solar adoption to combat climate change. Additionally, McKibben introduces agrovoltaics, showcasing how solar energy can harmonize with agriculture, benefiting both farmers and the environment.
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Solar Growth Has Become Exponential
- Solar deployment scaled from one terawatt to multiple terawatts in just a few years, showing unprecedented acceleration.
- This rapid growth is the first climate-scale technology expansion in decades that could alter warming trajectories.
China Is Becoming An 'Electrostate'
- China is installing solar at gigantic daily rates and is reshaping the global energy map as an 'electrostate.'
- Its capacity surge is influencing neighboring countries and regional power networks.
Rooftop Solar Mushrooming In Pakistan
- Pakistanis installed rooftop solar at massive scale using informal resources like TikTok for guidance.
- Bill McKibben described Lahore and Karachi as looking like mushrooms spreading after rain on Google Earth.
