From the 1970s to the present day, steam turbines have remained the dominant technology for generating the world's electricity. Whether powered by coal, nuclear energy, natural gas, or concentrated solar power, the steam turbine is the workhorse of the global power grid. This technology, over a century old, continues to be refined, providing the vast majority of electrical power that underpins modern civilization.

The persistence of the steam turbine in the age of digital technology is a testament to its elegance and efficiency. While not a frequent subject in contemporary poetry, the steam turbine is the unseen engine of the modern world, a fact that poets like Gary Snyder and others have noted in their reflections on energy, environment, and society. Its role in climate change is a growing theme in ecologically-conscious poetry.