Solar energy is the future of energy

Solar energy is the future of American energy A new study by the U.S. Department of Energy believes that the United States could use solar energy to provide 40% of the nation's electricity by 2035, and that proportion will reach 45% by 2050.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said in a Sept. 8 release of the 2021 Solar Futures Study: This cheapest and fastest-growing clean energy source could provide enough electricity to power all U.S. households by 2035 and employ as many as 1.5 million people in the process."
Three types of solar energy
Solar energy converts the sun's light and thermal energy into electricity using several different technologies.

The three most widely used solar technologies are:

Photovoltaic (PV) devices, such as solar panels, convert sunlight directly into electricity through semiconductors.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) power plants use mirrors to focus sunlight to generate enough heat to power a steam turbine or engine to generate electricity.
Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) systems use the heat of the sun to provide hot water or cool air in place of required electricity or natural gas.
Unlike burning coal, solar energy does not produce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

"Today, solar and wind are the cheapest sources of new electricity generation in countries that together account for 77% of global GDP," John Kerry, the President's special envoy for climate, noted in July.

Solar energy usage and storage forecast
The Department of Energy's 2021 Solar Outlook Study illustrates how solar energy can play a large, cost-effective role in ending America's reliance on fossil fuels.

The study noted that switching to clean energy sources such as solar and wind would create about 3 million jobs in the U.S. and lower consumers' energy bills.

The Department of Energy concluded that solar energy would provide as much as 40 percent of the nation's energy supply. This is especially important as electricity demand is expected to grow by 30% between 2020 and 2035, the study said.