tech

December 23, 2025

‘This is the Costco of energy, man!’: author Bill McKibben on the promise of renewables

The activist and author of Here Comes the Sun discusses rapid advances in solar and wind power and how the US ceded leadership in the sector to its main rival

‘This is the Costco of energy, man!’: author Bill McKibben on the promise of renewables

TL;DR

  • The planet is warming rapidly, but cheap solar and wind power, along with battery storage, offer a way to mitigate further warming.
  • China is leading the world in renewable energy development, building solar panels at an astonishing rate.
  • The widespread availability of solar and wind energy can help address global inequality by decentralizing power and wealth.
  • The fossil fuel industry is actively working to slow down the transition to renewable energy due to its economic interests.
  • The US, despite inventing key renewable technologies, has lost its leadership position to China due to lobbying and political influence from the fossil fuel industry.
  • The transition to renewable energy is presented not just as an environmental necessity but also as an economic opportunity and a source of beauty, reflecting humanity's deep connection to the sun.

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