A recent letter to the editor in the Arizona Daily Star highlighted what the author thinks is a problem with solar power.

According to the author, the process for making solar panels requires a lot of ‘purified silicon’ which he says just the first step requires “millions of tons of coal, coke, charcoal and wood chips”. 

He goes further to state that the natural resources (rare earth elements) needed are not only vast but also underneath forests which need to be cleared in order to mine them.

In all, he asserts, the solar industry “produces megatons of CO and CO2” and at the same time negatively impacts natural resources such as forests, water, and rare minerals. 

While I am sure there are factual truths contained in these statements, it seems to me that the overall assertion fails to take into account the greater picture.

Yes, I agree that solar panels and associated equipment don’t come without an impact. Indeed, they require raw materials that have to be mined, refined, and manufactured.

But so what? It’s not like ANY method of electrical power method is free from the same problems…

Gas/Coal has to be mined and burned.

Hydro power requires dams to be built (mined resources) and entire eco systems to be converted into man-made lakes.

Wind turbines require much the same in both natural resources and manufacturing and also have impacts on the environment (birds anyone?)

Nuclear power fuels have to be mined and refined… And the resources spent on controlling the waste isn’t any more free of impacts than any other energy source.

If we look at electric cars, this same argument crops up. Electric cars still have to be charged. The electricity still has to be produced. They still have a carbon footprint…

But, the idea is that centrally bulk produced electricity is far more efficient than individually produced in thousands of cars.

Ever been behind a ‘beater’ that poured out blue smoke on the Tucson streets? THAT car is burning oil and extremely inefficient… 

Every vehicle is somewhere on the spectrum of efficiency in terms of how well they produce energy vs. how much CO/CO2 they produce…

What’s got a better chance of being efficient- a central professionally operated power plant run by educated folks, or the random chance of every car owner out there having the money to repair their vehicles so they stay at least somewhat efficient.

Look no further than the emission testing required in Tucson.

There are other angles/issues that could be taken into account here too…

For instance, the power distribution grid had a cost to build. Has a cost to maintain. Is aging. And some say vulnerable.

Adding solar power to a home helps bolster that grid in many ways.

While the benefit to the homeowner is significant financially, the benefit to Tucson is significant as well…

 

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Tucson Solar Insider Desk Guide for Buying Solar

 

Be Good!

Curtis