5 Misconceptions about Renewable Energy
Solar and wind energy can quickly turn into a hot button issue for people on both sides of the political aisle. At New Era Land Services, we specialize in the “on the ground” aspects of renewable energy projects, which puts us in contact with a lot of stakeholders. Over the past few years, we’ve heard a number of misconceptions that we’d like to address.
“Renewable Energy Jobs are Temporary”
Certainly, there’s a lot of upfront engineering, construction, and project management effort. But, it would be inaccurate to say that all jobs are “temporary.” For example, a typical utility-scale solar project requires 600+ acres of land and millions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Entities funding such projects expect a return on investment, which gives them a financial reason to ensure proper management and maintenance. On a different note, “agrivoltaics” is an emerging industry worth considering, too. Learn more about agrivoltaics in the farmer’s guide to going solar from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).
“People Don’t Want Renewable Energy”
Some people do not want solar, wind, or other renewable energy projects in their communities. Such stakeholders’ concerns should be heard and weighed against the potential benefits for the community as a whole. After all, an ideal place for solar is in an energy community with a recently decommissioned coal fire plant. Such communities often struggle to replace lost tax revenue, which negatively impacts schools, fire departments, and other public services. Aesthetics aside, the potential upside of replacing lost energy through renewable sources must be carefully considered.
“Solar Will Ruin Property Values”
Few, if any, homeowners would want to wake up and find a 500-acre solar park adjoining their property. Collectively speaking, however, the case can be made that renewable energy projects actually improve property values. Data centers, manufacturers, and other companies are seeking cost-effective energy capacity on the grid. Renewable energy can provide a viable solution, thereby attracting companies that otherwise may look elsewhere. Such organizations hire workers, provide salaries and benefits, and spur local economic activity. Economic activity within a community is good for property values, not bad.
“Windmills are Ugly & Killing the Birds”
New ideas can take a while for people to accept. Windmills are no exception. With regard to the impact on wildlife, however, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office offers a helpful resource that explains:
“Over the past two decades, improvements in wind turbine design and wind energy project siting have greatly reduced the impact of wind energy development on birds. Today’s land-based wind turbines are larger and spaced farther apart than those in previous years, which means we need fewer of them to produce the same amount of power. Offshore turbines are even bigger. In addition, they are built to prevent birds from perching on them. Thanks to these changes, today’s wind turbines pose little hazard to most birds.”
-From Wind Turbines and Birds, https://windexchange.energy.gov/projects/birds
“We’re Going to Get Sick”
It’s hard to imagine how windmills might make someone sick. Most of these discussions revolve around solar energy. Although we’re not solar technology scientists, the following information from the United States Environmental Protection Agency should comfort most reasonable minds:
“It is important to note that solar panels are safe during use. While solar panels may contain small amounts of toxic metals like cadmium, silver, or lead, working solar panels do not leach those toxic metals. They have a strong encapsulant that prevents leaching.”
-From Solar Panel Frequent Questions, https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-frequent-questions
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