Green Junction - Wind + Solar
A major drawback associated with solar and wind energy is the lack of availability in the dark and when the wind isn’t blowing. However, these clean energy sources often create more energy than needed when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing and can be the reason for motionless wind turbines. Thanks to technology advancements, the excess energy can be effectively stored in batteries. A new report by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) explains the new era of energy storage, and the United States added a record-breaking amount of energy storage capacity in 2025.
According to the report, 57.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of new energy storage was installed in 2025, for a total capacity of 137 GWh, with expectations for further increases in 2026. For comparison, there was less than a half of a gigawatt of storage a decade ago. The report explains that battery storage capacity will “help lower costs, enhance reliability and boost American energy independence.” However, the organization’s CEO also clarified “deployment is rising fast, but without a course correction from federal actions targeting the industry, Americans will face higher electricity prices and a less resilient energy system.”
A recent Stanford University study predicts that the United States can be powered by renewable energy by 2050 using the existing proven technologies. Grid-connected, large scale solar facilities are the most efficient and cost-effective providers of solar energy and currently represent the majority of solar power. The study also predicts that renewable energy may not be dependent on battery storage if “wind and solar is blended over large regions.”
Clean energy is an exciting movement away from dirty fuels that are responsible for climate change. The move to renewables is accelerated by responsible government decisions, but slowed when pollution regulations are removed, fossil fuel subsidies rise and renewable energy incentives are eliminated. Clean sources of energy will provide environmental and human health benefits, offer savings for the average U.S. consumer and “avoid $3.3 trillion in worldwide global warming costs due to U.S. emissions” (Stanford study).