Many people think clean energy is impossible and ridiculous, a notion popularized around the 2008 election. However, I have been living off the grid, using solar and wind energy, since 1991. This directly contradicts those claims. The problem isn’t that clean energy can’t be achieved; it’s that people are looking at the issue too narrowly. By taking a broader approach that considers interconnected systems and gradual changes, we can make clean energy a reality in the U.S.
We’ve faced several energy crises recently, from nuclear meltdowns in Japan to high gasoline prices due to political unrest in North Africa. Harmful practices like fracking and coal-fired power plants, which cause numerous deaths annually from mercury and other emissions, continue. As Charles D. Connor from the American Lung Association suggests, we need to close the loophole allowing these plants to emit hazardous pollutants without federal limits.
We need to debunk some myths about clean energy and discuss comprehensive solutions, considering the often overlooked costs of dirty energy sources like coal, oil, and nuclear power.
**Myth 1: Solar and wind energies aren’t reliable because the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow.**
**Reality:** Places like North Dakota could provide ample wind energy, and Nevada’s deserts could offer extensive solar energy. The main issue is our inefficient transmission infrastructure, which wastes energy the farther it travels. We need to improve these systems. Solar thermal plants, which store solar heat in molten salts, can generate steam even after sunset. As the costs of cleaning base load technologies like coal and nuclear rise, investment in solar thermal storage will increase too.
**Myth 2: Renewable energy is too expensive and will never be cost-effective.**
**Reality:** Solar and wind technology prices are dropping quickly as demand and production grow, making them more competitive with non-renewable sources in many parts of the world.
**Myth 3: You can’t power an electric car with solar or wind energy.**
**Reality:** If you charge your electric vehicle (EV) where electricity comes from coal, you’re essentially driving a coal-powered car. However, an EV powered by a solar-powered home is a truly green option.
**Myth 4: Electric cars will leave you stranded.**
**Reality:** While long trips like driving from New York to LA in a Tesla require careful planning, urban areas have plenty of charging stations for EVs.
In conclusion, the belief that clean energy is unattainable is false. With increasing demand for renewable energy, falling production costs, and the environmental damage caused by conventional technologies, renewable energy sources are becoming more prominent.
**Author’s Bio:**
Dan Fink has been living off the grid in the Northern Colorado mountains since 1991. He holds a BA in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University. Dan has extensive experience consulting, designing, and installing renewable energy systems, and he has been teaching and writing about them since 2000. He is the Executive Director of Buckville Energy Consulting, Editor-in-Chief of Buckville Publications LLC, and co-author of the book *Homebrew Wind Power*. He teaches renewable energy classes across the U.S.