Report: Green power projects come with their own environmental costs

A new report from a conservative Minnesota-based think tank warns that public policy advocates are increasingly ignoring the environmental impacts of green energy projects such as wind and solar. 

The Center for the American Experiment says in its report, Shattered Green Dreams, that it found numerous issues with green power that are ignored in policy discussions. From large land use requirements and impacts to wildlife to the ethical sourcing of materials and limited lifespan of green power infrastructure, the report’s authors call for a more balanced approach to energy policy, including acknowledgement of the benefits of conventional power sources. 

“Maximizing the reliability and affordability of the country’s electricity supply while minimizing environmental impacts should be the goal of energy policy,” the report’s introduction states. “Wind, solar and battery storage fail to meet reliability and affordability criteria.”