The Next Big Idea Daily Here Comes The Sun. Just In Time.
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Aug 28, 2025 
Bill McKibben, a pioneering environmentalist and author of 'The End of Nature', passionately argues that solar power is the key to tackling the climate crisis in his latest book. He highlights the rapid growth of solar energy, now the fastest-growing energy source, and its affordability. McKibben discusses how renewable energy can empower communities and reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Additionally, he emphasizes the importance of recycling materials for energy storage to promote sustainability and mitigate environmental impacts.
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Solar's Unprecedented Growth
- Solar power is growing faster now than any energy source in history, with massive installation rates.
- Humans installed about a gigawatt of solar every 24 hours in mid-2023, now about every 18 hours.
California's Renewable Success Story
- California often generates over 100% of daytime power from renewables during long stretches.
- At night, batteries charged by daytime solar can become the largest supply source on the grid.
Speed Is The Climate Gamechanger
- Rapid solar rollout is the only energy solution likely to scale fast enough to curb the climate emergency.
- Solar and storage can be built in about a year versus a decade for nuclear, enabling timely emissions reductions.
