Dispelling Myths and Renewing Energy — One Fact at a Time

Energy production has been a hot topic since water was first used to build sawmills in the New Amsterdam harbor in the 17th century, and since then, energy demand has increased continuously across the globe. From water to solar and coal to wind, the sources of energy that build and power our world have appropriately faced ethical, moral, scientific, and political scrutiny.

Before the 1970s, Americans benefited from the relatively low cost of energy.  However, the nation's reliance on foreign oil imports led to the crisis of 1973-74 and the quadrupling of oil prices. Energy production policy had to change, igniting a debate between two camps — one for environmental protection and another for affordable energy and independence from other countries.

Today, the choice isn’t one or the other: The development of low-cost renewable energy has the potential to unite these camps, and did enjoy bipartisan support for a time. However, the Pew Research Center found that support has significantly decreased, even as Americans want affordable and better energy sources.

In 2020, Republican opinion about energy production sources favored renewable energy by 65%. Five years later, 67% of Republicans say they favor prioritizing fossil fuel options, including natural gas, instead.

Why has support for renewables reversed course? One reason is the recent spread of misinformation about renewable energy. This article aims to dispel the myths with facts.

Myth: Renewable energy is more expensive than traditional sources like fossil fuels.

Fact: More than 90% of new renewable energy produced worldwide is less expensive than the cheapest fossil fuel.

Evidence: Several recent reports from authorities like the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations, and others reveal that the cost of renewable energy has been decreasing since 2010 due to technological advances and competitive supply chains. The levelized cost of solar was 41% less expensive on average than gas, while onshore wind projects were 53% less, becoming more affordable than fossil fuels in all major markets.

To put this in a global perspective, "Renewables helped avoid USD 467 billion in fossil fuel costs [in 2024], reinforcing their role not only as the lowest-cost source of new power but also as a key driver of energy security, economic stability, and resilience in a volatile global energy landscape." 

One reason electricity from renewable sources is cheaper than traditional energy generation is that wind and solar generation do not require the purchase of a fuel, such as coal or natural gas. The cost of the fuel alone has to factor in extraction, refinement, and transportation and can be affected by fluctuating markets and geopolitical events. Conversely, sunlight and wind are free and inexhaustible.

The more renewable energy is produced, the cheaper it becomes, a phenomenon known as a learning curve. This leads to continuous cost declines, a pattern not seen with fossil fuels. Analysts expect that the difference between more affordable clean energy sources and more expensive fossil fuels will continue to widen. 

Myth: Solar and wind energy is unreliable because it fluctuates with weather and time of day. 

Fact: Diverse energy sources, battery systems, and technological grid management can overcome wind and solar production’s limits. 

Evidence: Technological innovations are rapidly improving the efficacy of wind and solar. It is now possible to sustain a reliable electricity system based on renewable energy sources paired with battery storage systems and a diversification approach to power grid maintenance. This approach uses a combination of renewables at various locations and at different times for generation.

Advanced grid management system technologies allow the addition of renewable energy into existing power grids. They can also predict, detect, and alert to problems before an outage occurs, and even stabilize a grid automatically. Conversely, fossil fuel sources are not as reliable as some may think. For example, old pipelines for natural gas are vulnerable to weather conditions such as freezes and hurricanes as well as physical or cyberattacks. 

Myth: Renewable energy sources are insufficient to meet global power needs. 

Fact: Renewable energy options can power the world 100 times over, and the marked decrease in costs makes them more accessible than ever before.

Evidence: The earth's natural solar and wind resources are enormous and are already the fastest-growing sources of electricity globally. The world is adding more renewable energy capacity than ever before with substantial growth expected in the coming decade. In 2019, global energy consumption was 65 petawatt hours (PWh). Current technology has the potential to capture more than 5,800 PWh annually from solar alone, with 900 PWh a year from wind. This is more power in a single year than could be generated by burning all known fossil fuel reserves.  

Myth: Renewable energy creates fewer jobs or harms the economy. 

Fact: Renewable energy jobs in both construction and generation grew at twice the rate of jobs across the economy in 2023. Renewable energy sources generate millions in tax revenue.

Evidence: The U.S. currently has more than 800 manufacturing plants supplying renewable energy, with at least one in every state; 200 more are in development. They currently support 122,000 American jobs and are projected to employ more than 575,000 by 2030. Renewable energy contributes $18 billion annually to GDP with projections of $86 billion by 2030. Wind and solar projects generate billions in tax revenue that fund essential local services like schools, fire departments, and road maintenance. This revenue is generated without raising taxes on residents. 

Myth: The manufacturing process for renewables is environmentally destructive and takes up too much land.

Fact: Renewable energy production creates significantly less impact on the environment than conventional energy production, especially when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Evidence: Energy production of any kind impacts the environment. However, compared to fossil fuel-based electricity generation, renewable energy offers the major advantage of substantially less greenhouse gas emissions that negatively affect air, water, land, wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. Renewable energy does require critical minerals, but the emissions created from mining them are tiny compared to those created by extracting and burning fossil fuels.

Human rights abuses have existed throughout the history of mining and have been documented recently in the push for critical minerals as well. Most have occurred within the same few companies, but none should be tolerated. Mandatory human rights policies and standards, stronger enforcement, and accountability are crucial. 

Unlike fossil fuels, many critical minerals can be recycled from discarded end-use products or undergo a process of recuperating the minerals from the tailings of old mines. The U.S. already has recycling streams in place for at least 14 minerals, but feasible alternatives to new mining will require further refinement to become more affordable. Solar panels can also be recycled. The machinery and market for this is steadily maturing. These alternatives to new mining have the potential to avoid harmful environmental and public health impacts, conserve land, and protect against supply chain disruptions.

While some studies indicate that the land required to build enough solar panels to meet energy demand is only 0.3% globally, it may still be larger than what is needed for the extraction, transport, and storage of fossil fuels. However, the land for wind and solar can often be dual purposed and will continue to produce energy year after year. Renewable energy can also be added to already disturbed land such as military installations and existing or retired power plants. 

All energy projects must go through land use and environmental impact studies before they can be permitted.  

Myth: Renewable energy projects use too much water.

Fact: Renewable energy projects require much less water than traditional energy generation. 

Evidence: Compared to fossil fuel and nuclear power generation, wind and solar production have the lowest water consumption. Traditional thermal power plants require billions of gallons of water for the cooling of steam from turbines. 

Fossil fuel operations also use water to extract oil and gas. Fracking, in particular, produces large amounts of potentially toxic wastewater, which, if mismanaged, risks contaminating surrounding ground and drinking water. Currently, the majority of this wastewater is disposed of by injection into the ground where the water can no longer be accessed or used. 

Water for electricity generation overall has declined due to increased use of wind and solar, which only require enough water to occasionally clean panels or turbine blades.

Myth: Wind turbines kill large numbers of birds, and solar farms harm wildlife.

Fact: Wind and solar projects can be adapted to increase safety for birds and wildlife through strategic siting, operational adjustment, and technological advances in wildlife deterrence. 

Evidence: The biggest threat to birds and other wildlife is rising temperatures caused by fossil fuel emissions, which are estimated to increase the risk of extinction for two-thirds of bird species in North America. Renewable energy reduces this threat but does create other risks to birds and other animals.

The most effective way to protect wildlife is to build renewable energy projects away from known migration paths, foraging areas, and sensitive habitats and to discontinue wind operations during mating seasons. Auditory and visual deterrents, such as painting one turbine blade black, can reduce bird fatalities by 70%. Some wind farm operators are experimenting with artificial intelligence to sense a bird's approach, powering turbines down to avoid collisions. 

The siting process for solar arrays can prioritize previously disturbed land, industrial areas, or abandoned agricultural sites and avoid disturbing pristine, natural habitats. Projects can be designed to include migratory corridors for safe passage of wildlife and connectivity of ecosystems. Barriers, including bird nets on rooftop solar are highly effective at protecting both birds and wiring. 

Myth: Renewable energy is incompatible with farming and ranching.

Fact: Farmers and ranchers continue agricultural production near wind turbines or place solar panels on already existing rooftops or unused land.

Evidence: Landowners can earn income from energy leases in addition to agricultural production. If done cooperatively, projects provide income for farmers and landowners and protect land well suited for agriculture and grazing. Many crops perform very well under the shade of solar panels, which also reduces the amount of water those crops need. Farmers and ranchers can work toward a transition to renewable energy in order to minimize future impacts on crops from droughts, floods, extreme heat, etc.

Myth: The energy produced from renewable energy projects in rural areas all goes to big cities.

Fact: Renewable energy generated in rural areas can power nearby communities, businesses, and rural cooperatives and can also be transported to larger cities.

Evidence: Rural areas present prime spaces for big impact in renewable energy projects that can reach both rural and urban areas. The new ERA initiative outlines projects in process or to begin in rural areas. Not only do these projects have the potential to decrease the cost of power for individuals, families, and businesses, they will also create jobs and reinvigorate struggling rural communities. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance reported that locally controlled energy production translates into more jobs and reinvestment, creative solutions to local issues, greater public support, and more political power. 

Myth: Solar installations and battery storage systems are susceptible to fires.

Fact: Fires caused by solar installations and battery storage systems are rare. 

Evidence: Most of the materials in solar panels are inflammable. In cases where solar panels have been implicated in fires, the cause has been improper installation, faulty wiring, or insufficient insulation. National electric codes and standards have been mandated for installation, modification, and maintenance of both utility scale and rooftop solar. 

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) fires are possible due to lithium ions overheating, manufacturing defects, or damage to the battery itself. Research shows that BESS safety has improved in recent years and that incidence of fires remains exceptionally low. Industry standards now require individual battery containers that prevent spread and allow individual battery fires to die out.

Conclusion

The wind and solar energy industries depend on technology that has dramatically improved since the early days of old solar panels and the first windmills. Overall, renewable energy sources are clean, safe, economical, and environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional power sources. Counting on some of the most powerful and inexhaustible natural resources is a way to work with the earth rather than further exploiting or wasting it.

This article was written by Paulette Stauffer Henriod, environmental program specialist, and Sherilyn Stevenson, lead researcher and writer, at Mormon Women for Ethical Government.