Like those at the beginning of the Industrial Age, we are at a dawning moment of the Clean Energy Age. Despite the actions of the current administration, clean energy is expanding rapidly across the globe.
- Solar energy will never run out (at least not for another billion years!)
- Energy from the sun is not dependent on supply/demand economics
- The price of tapping into the energy from the sun will never go up (because it is ubiquitous)
- Solar energy is clean and is better for all communities
- Solar energy is equitably available to all
These are all the reasons why those in power are doing everything they can to spread disinformation, put in more roadblocks, and challenge the development of new technologies – because they will lose their power and their profits.
With this in mind, here are five myths about solar energy that we can readily debunk.
Myth #1. Energy from solar and wind is not reliable. The sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow!
Response: The energy storage industry is booming! Battery-energy storage systems are now available. New technologies are getting developed, and batteries are getting better all the time. Combining these energy storage systems with solar panels is one of the biggest reasons for solar power’s global success as a very reliable source of electricity
Myth #2. Switching to solar energy will cost a lot of money, and our rates will go up!
Response: The pricing of fossil fuel energy is controlled by an Oiligarchy! The powerful few are able to control the supply of fossil fuels, and therefore raise prices when demand for energy rises. Oil barons don’t want to support new technologies because it’ll break their monopoly of power and money.
The power of the Sun, on the other hand, is fully equitable and accessible to anyone on the planet. Renewable energy is actually cheaper than fossil fuels, and with plummeting manufacturing cost, affordable clean energy is more accessible than ever. Today, solar and wind provide the cheapest power for 67% of the world.
As Bill McKibben often shares, “all one needs to do is point a sheet of glass at the sun.” The sun provides thousands of times as much energy as we could ever need on the planet EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Myth #3. We’ll need to do excessive mining for lithium to support the amount of batteries we’ll need to support clean energy.
Response: The amount of mining needed for the clean energy transition is a fraction of the mining that is needed to continue to support oil, gas, and coal. (Note: new oil wells lose upwards of 70 – 90% of their production efficiency in their first year!) From the Rocky Mountain Institute: The amount of mining we have to do between now and 2050 for the renewable energy transition is less than the volume of mining required for coal production just last year!
Also, new generation Chinese EV’s are running on sodium ion batteries. Sodium is the fifth most common element on our planet!
Myth #4. We’re going to lose a lot of good paying jobs currently available from the oil industry.
Response: We’ll need to help these workers transition to new jobs. These workers worked hard to create our current infrastructure and prosperity. The fossil fuel greedy executives knew 50 years ago that their drilling and products were destroying our livable climate and earth.
In the few short years implementing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), we learned that we will need more than twice as many workers to build the clean energy economy! An estimated 14 million new jobs could be created in the clean energy space. From installation and maintenance to innovation and research, the renewable energy industry has the potential to drive a new era of economic prosperity while tackling climate change. These are good paying jobs needed to help build the clean energy economy. By contrast, the fossil fuel industry is expected to lose over 6 million jobs by 2050.
We’re going to need a lot more electricians! AI cannot come and rewire your home!
Myth #5. My local utility company says it’ll take trillions of dollars and many years to update and fix the grid.
Response: Electricity demand is rapidly increasing (mostly driven by data centers) and local utilities’ primary job is to ensure delivery of electricity to all of their customers, which will require them to upgrade grids all across the country. Some of these public utility commissions (PUC) are overly focused on their profit, and that’s not acceptable.
Replacing existing power lines with advanced high-performance conductors is one simple fix that could potentially double current grid capacity.
Adding more rooftop solar also puts less stress on the grid. By generating power closer to where it’s used, especially during peak demand hours, solar reduces strain on transmission and distribution lines, minimizes energy loss, and helps avoid costly grid infrastructure upgrades.
Sun and wind are the cheapest sources of electricity on the planet! It is the PUC’s responsibility to ensure they are finding ways to expand their capacity to manage increasing amounts of clean energy on their grids.
Sun Day celebrations are about the hope and joy we can share for a more equitable clean energy future! We’re shining a light on what’s possible.
Join us! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors.
We look forward to seeing you at an event on Sunday, September 21st!
Resources:
Factcheck: 16 misleading myths about solar power
Unmasking Dark Money: How Fossil Fuel Interests Can Undermine Clean Energy Progress
The U.S. Keeps Breaking Renewable Energy Records
Bill McKibben (founder of Third Act) has been tirelessly making his way across the country to promote Sun Day and his new book.
Support his efforts by buying a copy of Here comes the Sun, a last chance for the climate and a fresh chance for civilization!
