Solar and Wind Depend on Natural Gas

Solar and wind are rolling out rapidly in the U.S. They account for about 19 percent of energy generation today, and could reach more than 40% by 2030. This clean energy will rapidly replace coal, and many expect 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.

As Robin Gaster writes for RealClearEnergy, natural gas must serve as "capacity insurance" to variable renewable energy to maintain a consistent grid.