The worldwide transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel resources shrink, as air pollution worsens, and as concerns about climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old economy, fueled largely by coal and oil, is being replaced with one poweredby solar and wind energy.
In 2014, Denmark got 43 percent of its electricity from the wind. Portugal and Spain each got over 20 percent, and Ireland got 19 percent of its electricity from wind power. Indeed, on some days wind power supplied half of Ireland’s electricity. During several days in August 2014, electricity generated from wind in the United Kingdom eclipsed coal. In South Australia, wind farms now supply more electricity than coal plants. In China, electricity from wind farms has eclipsed nuclear power plants. And water for 170 million Chinese...
