Environmental consequences of "renewable" energy

by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 2001

Solar

large collecting surfaces result in heating with environmental effects
needs large amount of natural and human resources to maintain
large amounts of land required,
needs large amount of natural resources to build--concrete production for a plant releases as much carbon dioxide as an equivalent capacity fossil fuel plant in one year
photovoltaic cell production results in toxic chemical pollution, including arsenic, gallium, and cadmium
needs energy storage abilities, involving toxic chemicals
large labor costs in construction and maintenance result in injuries and deaths
thermal solar plants can (and have) had fires releasing toxic smoke
kills many birds (mostly non-endangered)

Wind

needs large amount of natural resources to build--particularly steel, which is non-renewable, and concrete, the production of which releases carbon dioxide and particulate air pollution
needs large amount of natural resources to maintain
large amounts of land required,
kills large numbers of birds--about 1,000 birds killed per year, mostly predatory birds and many endangered species (one wind plant in California may have killed 10% of the golden eagles in the state)
needs energy storage abilities, involving toxic chemicals
severe noise pollution
large labor costs in construction and maintenance result in injuries and deaths
can cause grass fires from electrical shorts and flaming birds

Geothermal

results in toxic emissions, including hydrogen sulfide
produces toxic waste and other dissolved solid wastes
may release carbon dioxide
most potential sites are in environmentally sensitive or protected areas
some sites are non-renewable--America's largest site has experienced a drop in output of one-third
many sites are near geyser fields--most historical geyser extinctions have resulted from geothermal energy extraction