Solar and Wind Won’t Replace Natural Gas for Decades—They Will Depend on It

An array of photovoltaic solar panels are seen at the Berliner Wasserbetriebe in Berlin, in a file photo. Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Commentary

Solar and wind are rolling out rapidly in the United States. They account for about 19 percent of energy generation today and could reach more than 40 percent by 2030. This clean energy will rapidly replace coal, and many expect that it will simply replace natural gas as well. But that’s a mistake: In fact, solar and wind will depend on gas for decades to come.