Bill McKibben Champions Affordable Clean Energy in New Book

A New Era of Renewable Energy

For almost 40 years, Bill McKibben has been sounding the alarm about the life-changing dangers of a warming planet. His groundbreaking book, "The End of Nature," published in 1989, is often considered the first book on global warming. Now, as the effects of climate change become increasingly evident, McKibben sees a new opportunity to combat this crisis.

"The last two years have been the hottest in the last 100,000 years, but for the first time we have a tool that could actually take a bite out of it," McKibben said. That tool, he explains, is affordable green energy technology—primarily solar and wind power—that can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In his most recent book, "Here Comes the Sun" (Norton), McKibben details the rapid transition to such technologies and their potential to transform our energy landscape.

The Rise of Solar and Wind Power

McKibben founded 350.org, an international environmental organization focused on addressing the climate crisis by ending the use of fossil fuels and transitioning to renewable energy. He emphasizes that the cost of producing energy from the sun has now dropped below that of fossil fuels, marking a significant turning point.

"It was in the early part of the 2020s when we crossed the line that (the cost of) producing energy from the sun dropped below the cost of fossil fuel," McKibben noted. This development comes at a critical time as the climate continues to deteriorate. However, challenges remain, particularly in the United States, where political instability complicates the adoption of these new technologies.

Solar and Wind Power Are No Longer Alternative Energies

One of the main reasons McKibben wrote "Here Comes the Sun" was to highlight that solar and wind power are no longer fringe energy sources. "This is not a fringe energy source, and this is a big moment for our species. For 700,000 years we've been using fire as an energy source, but we don't need to do that anymore."

In the book, McKibben describes how the sun is our ally. "The sun can't solve all our problems with a warming planet, but unlike burning fossil fuels that causes asthma and deaths every year, solar energy does not pollute." He also points out that the sun's power is universally accessible, making it a game-changer for developing countries like China, which are leading the charge in advancing green technologies.

The Role of Developing Countries

McKibben notes that while many developed nations have been slow to adopt clean energy, the developing world is taking the lead. "One of the reasons is that you can't hoard the power of the sun. It's available to everyone. That's great news for all of us on the planet except for people who own coal mines and oil wells, and that explains why these companies are attempting to put out negative stories about solar and wind power."

Despite the potential of these technologies, the Trump administration halted several high-profile solar projects, including one in Rhode Island that was 80% complete, and another planned in Nevada that would have been one of the largest in the country. "That solar farm would have powered two million homes in America. This is extremely frustrating because all this green technology was invented right here."

Innovation and Bureaucracy

The first solar cell was created in 1954 at Bell Labs in New Jersey, and the first commercial wind turbine was invented in the Taconic Mountains of Vermont in 1943. However, McKibben laments that the U.S. is now handing this technology to other countries. "Americans are also paying about three times as much as Australians and Europeans when we put solar panels on the roofs of our homes. It's not because our panels are more costly. It's almost entirely the cost of the bureaucracy involved."

He also criticizes New York for not doing enough compared to other states. "States that have distinguished themselves so far are California, Texas and Illinois. Texas is putting up renewable energy faster than any state in the country. They are big believers in free markets, and Utah is the only state that is allowing balcony solar," a type of panel that can be added to an exterior fixture like a patio and plugs into a standard household outlet.

Challenges and Future Prospects

While clean energy technologies are improving rapidly each year, air travel remains a challenge. "Transcontinental and intercontinental flight will be a continued problem in the future, but I think in the next 10 years we're going to see a lot of battery-powered aircraft flying short distances."

McKibben lives in Vermont during the academic school year and is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College. He also spends part of the year in the Adirondack Mountains, where he finds hope in the region's recovery. "There is no more hopeful place on the planet for me than the Adirondacks. One hundred and twenty years ago this entire area was clear cut, but now here we are to see how it has recovered and has become one of the most beautiful places in the world."

The Sun’s Role in Our Future

In the final chapter of his book, McKibben reflects on the importance and wonder of the sun. "The sun gives us light, warmth, photosynthesis and summer. It improves our mood, and every human smiles when the sun comes out of a cloud after a dreary day. It's the most charismatic object in our corner of the universe, and now here it comes to hopefully save us from the destructive effects of a warming planet."