The practices used in conventional farming help produce large amounts of food, which of course helps farmers stay in business. However these practices also contribute to climate change. The use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plus planting the same crop over and over in the same field, leads to lower quality soil and increased vulnerability to pests. 

Managing a profitable farm and practicing good climate stewardship aren’t mutually exclusive ideas. Farmers have options that make it possible to grow large amounts of food and minimize their impact, including using regenerative agriculture techniques and installing agrivoltaic systems for solar power on their land. Let’s look at how both these paths improve a farm’s resilience and support the farmer’s economic well-being.

Saving the Soil Can Also Save Money

According to the Regenerative Agriculture Foundation, regenerative farming is any practice, process or management approach that enhances the functioning of the systems on which it relies that makes the land, community and bottom-line healthier year after year.

Regenerative farming practices include using natural fertilizers and cover crops, eliminating mechanical soil tilling, and integrating trees into farming. These methods help promote biodiversity and maintain healthy carbon levels in the soil; they can also reduce overall agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

Regenerative farming also has the potential to increase crop yield – and also revenue – depending on how and where it is used. Organic farming, or the practice of using natural fertilizers, shows an average yield gain of 16 percent in tropical countries in Africa. In subtropical and tropical regions, using agroforestry, or integrating trees into crop land, results in a 7-16 percent increase in crop yield. Farmers that planted cover crops like legumes in areas with course-textured soil and not much rain saw an overall yield increase of 14 percent. 

However even when crop yields are smaller, regenerative agriculture can still result in higher revenue through decreased operational costs. A 2025 study looking at regenerative farming in the Upper Midwest compared a five-crop rotation system to a conventional corn-soybean rotation and found that the regenerative system can be just as profitable, particularly over the long term. After three years of a five-crop rotation, the revenue produced was similar to that of the two-crop system, likely because of the need for less spending on pesticides, spraying, fertilizers, and tractor use. 

Prioritizing climate sustainability doesn’t have to mean an unprofitable farm. Regenerative agriculture can offer financial stability, but it’s not the only option farmers have.

Harvesting Crops and Kilowatts

In the short term, switching to regenerative farming can be a financial risk due to unpredictable initial crop yields, so finding a secondary income source can be a lifesaver for farmers. Arivoltaics, or solar panels integrated into an agriculture system, allow farmers to earn money in two ways: from selling products and from producing or selling electricity. This extra energy income can help farmers become less affected by unpredictable crop price fluctuations and protect them from financial losses caused by extreme weather conditions.

However, agrivoltaic systems can be expensive to install because they require taller, stronger, and more complex structures than regular ground-mounted solar panels. Some studies estimate the cost to be about 5 to 40 percent higher than conventional solar panel installations, though newer designs and distributed manufacturing may help lower costs and improve payback period, which is already less than 10 years on average.

Solar Panels can Shade and Shelter

Even with the high installation costs, a 2025 systematic review found that agrivoltaic systems can provide several benefits beyond renewable electricity. These systems may improve water-use efficiency in hot climates by up to 150-300 percent through providing shade. They also enhance land-use efficiency by up to 200 percent, reduce the need for irrigation by 14 percent, and increase revenue by up to 15 times. In addition, shade from the panels helps reduce heat stress in livestock and the physical structure itself creates a shield, reducing potential wind damage to crops and the earth. 

However, these potential benefits don’t mean that agrivoltaics will work equally well everywhere. The success of these systems depends on the location of the farm, soil and crop type, and the layout of the solar panels. 

A 2026 PNAS study gives a good example of these mixed results. It found that agrivoltaics performed differently in locations across the U.S. Midwest. In the more humid, eastern Midwest, agrivoltaics reduced crop yields and farm profits, while in semiarid western Midwest locations, solar panel shade helped reduce water stress, improving crop growth. One lesson we can take from this study is that agrivoltaics may be most useful in hotter or drier climates.

Supporting the Farms of Tomorrow

While regenerative agriculture and agrivoltaics have their trade offs, they offer farmers a hopeful path forward. Regenerative agriculture can rebuild soil health, reduce dependence on expensive fertilizers and pesticides, and even increase yields when matched to the right climate and crop, while agrivoltaics add another layer of economic support and provide shade and wind protection. Together these practices show that farming does not have to choose between profit and environmental responsibility. When carefully planned for local conditions, regenerative agriculture and agrivoltaics can help farmers earn money, protect their land, and build farms that actively fight against global warming.

Check out our other articles on regenerative farming, soil health, and all things food.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at woods@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post How Soil and Solar Can Pay Farmers Back appeared first on Earth Day.

On a hot summer afternoon in Chicago’s South Side, electricity bills spike just as the air turns unbearable. For many families, the choice is stark: run the air conditioner and risk falling behind on bills, or sweat it out and hope the heat breaks. This is the reality for millions of Americans living in rental housing, multifamily buildings, or neighborhoods where installing rooftop solar is simply not an option.

For years, solar energy has been framed as a climate solution. Too often, it’s only an option for people who can afford a house, a roof, and thousands of dollars upfront. Community solar is quietly changing that equation.

Instead of panels on individual rooftops, community solar projects place solar arrays in shared locations — such as vacant lots, brownfields, former landfills, parking canopies, or agricultural land — allowing multiple customers to subscribe to and benefit from the energy produced. The benefits of the solar output flow to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and other community members who receive credits on their utility bills without installing anything themselves.  

Increasingly, these programs are being designed with equity at the center.

What “Solar for All” Really Means

Community solar isn’t new, but recent “Solar for All” initiatives are pushing the model further by prioritizing low- and moderate-income households located in communities that face disproportionate energy costs and climate pollution.

For instance, the Illinois Solar for All program was created to expand access to clean energy for households earning 80% or less of the area’s median income. Participants can subscribe to community solar projects with guaranteed savings, often without credit checks or upfront fees. For families already spending a disproportionate share of income on utilities, even modest monthly savings can be meaningful.

New York has taken a similar approach. The state now leads the nation in installed community solar capacity, supported by policies that encourage projects to serve renters, affordable housing developments, and environmental justice communities. In recent years, hundreds of New Yorkers have subscribed to community solar, many of whom would never have been able to afford installing rooftop solar panels. On average, subscribers save 5-10% on their electricity bills, which can translate to $100-$200 per year depending on usage.

For some households, that may sound modest. But for a senior on a fixed income, that could mean covering a month of prescription medication . For a parent, it could mean groceries that stretch to the end of the month, a child’s school supplies, or simply the ability to keep the air conditioning running during a heat wave without fear of falling behind. Community solar doesn’t just lower bills — it creates breathing room. 

Washington D.C.’s Oxon Run Solar Project shows what’s possible when local governments think creatively. Built on a former landfill in Southeast D.C., the project supplies solar power to nearby households, delivering direct bill credits to residents who have historically faced high energy costs and underinvestment.

These programs don’t just reduce emissions. They reduce inequality.

Energy Burden Is a Climate Justice Issue

Energy burden — the percentage of household income spent on energy bills — is one of the clearest indicators of energy inequity. Low-income households in the United States often spend up to three times more of their income on electricity and energy costs than higher-income households. Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities face disproportionately high energy burdens due to historic redlining, chronic underinvestment, and closer proximity to polluting infrastructure.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, community solar plays a key role in expanding clean energy access by lowering barriers related to homeownership, credit requirements, and upfront costs – obstacles that have historically excluded many households from the renewable transition. 

Just as important, community solar projects can be built faster and at scale. A single solar array can serve hundreds or even thousands of households, accelerating emissions reductions while spreading financial savings more evenly.

Jobs, Local Investment, and Energy Independence

The benefits don’t just stop at the meter.

Community solar projects create local jobs in construction, maintenance, and administration. Nationwide, the solar industry already employs hundreds of thousands of workers, and community-scale projects are among the fastest-growing segments of the market. These are jobs that cannot be outsourced because they involve on-site construction, electrical work, operations, and long-term maintenance that must be performed locally. 

There’s also a resilience advantage. Distributed solar generation, including community solar, reduces reliance on large, centralized fossil fuel power plants. Those facilities are especially vulnerable to extreme weather — including heat waves, hurricanes, and winter storms — which can overwhelm aging electric grids and trigger widespread outages. 

In 2021, during Winter Storm Uri in Texas, millions of residents lost power for days as centralized power plants and natural gas infrastructure failed in freezing temperatures. More than 200 people died, and families were left without heat, light, or safe drinking water. The crisis exposed how fragile heavily centralized systems can be in the face of extreme weather. 

By generating electricity closer to where it is used locally, sited solar can help stabilize electric systems during periods of high demand. When paired with energy storage — such as batteries that store excess power for use during outages or peak house — community solar can continue delivering electricity even when the broader grid is disrupted. Modern grid management tools further enhance this resilience by balancing supply and demand in real time, reducing the scale and duration of outages during extreme weather events.

PULLQUOTE: “Energy justice means the goal of achieving equity in both the social and economic participation in the energy system, while also remediating social, economic, and health burdens on those historically harmed by the energy system.” – U.S. The Department of Energy, Office of Energy Justice

Policy Makes the Difference

Where community solar thrives, it is almost always because strong policy made it possible.

States like Illinois, New York, and Colorado have passed legislation requiring utility companies to support community solar development and ensure a portion of their capacity is reserved for low-income subscribers. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act authorized major federal investment through new grants and tax incentives aimed at underserved communities, but ongoing political challenges now threaten how fully those commitments are realized — if they are realized at all. 

But access is still unequal. Many states — including Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina — lack enabling legislation to create or manage community solar programs, leaving millions without the option to participate. In others, program caps and restrictive enrollment limits in states such as Massachusetts, Minnesota, and New York have periodically constrained how much community solar capacity can come online, slowing progress just as demand slows. .

This patchwork approach highlights a broader truth: the clean energy transition isn’t just about technology — it’s about political will. 

Why This Moment Matters

The United States is at a crossroads. Electricity demand is rising as extreme heat intensifies, vehicles electrify, and aging infrastructure strains under growing pressure. At the same time, millions of households remain locked out of clean energy simply because they rent, lack upfront capital, or live in states without enabling policies.

Community solar offers something rare in today’s political climate: a solution that lowers bills, reduces emissions, strengthens grid resilience, and expands economic opportunity all at once. It turns clean energy from a private upgrade into shared infrastructure.

Solar power doesn’t just belong on rooftops. It belongs in neighborhoods. 

Earth Day 2026 is centered on one powerful idea: Community action. Because real climate solutions don’t start in boardrooms — they start where people live.

Community solar is a perfect example of what happens when neighbors, local leaders, and grassroots organizers work together to reshape energy systems so they serve everyone, not just a privileged few. These projects succeed because communities demand them, design them, and benefit from them collectively.

Here’s how you can turn community action into real impact:

• Start local conversations about community solar with tenant associations, neighborhood groups, faith organizations, and community centers. Many people are eligible but don’t know these programs exist.
• Support local clean energy initiatives by showing up to city council meetings, public utility hearings, and community planning sessions where energy decisions are being made.
• Partner with community organizations already working on housing justice, public health, or economic equity. Community solar works best when climate action is woven into existing local efforts.
• Educate and mobilize by sharing accessible, fact-based information about community solar and energy equity through EARTHDAY.ORG’s climate and energy resources.

You can help expand access to clean energy by supporting community-led solar initiatives and pushing for policies that make them widespread and equitable. Add your name to the Renewable Energy Petition asking world leaders to triple renewable energy generation by 2030. If you’re in the U.S., send a message to your local lawmakers asking them to stop rollbacks and promote renewable energy so community solar can grow in every neighborhood.

Climate change is global, but solutions are built block by block. When communities organize, share power, and act together, clean energy becomes more than a technology. It becomes a tool for justice.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at woods@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Solar Power Isn’t Just for Homeowners Anymore appeared first on Earth Day.

In 2024, global demand for coal, often called “the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel”, reached a record high, consumption hitting approximately 8.8 billion tons. 

Despite the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, a legally binding international treaty aimed at limiting global warming to well below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C, coal emissions continue to rise as part of the world’s stubborn reliance on fossil fuels. To have any chance of meeting the 1.5°C target, global greenhouse gas emissions need to peak before 2025 at the latest, and then decline by 43% by 2030. The catch? We are already in 2025. The clock is ticking.

One of the governments still pursuing coal, despite its environmental impacts, is the United States. On September 29th, 2025, the U.S. government revealed a plan to revive the mining of coal in the United States. 

The U.S. Department of the Interior said it would open up 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining and lower royalty rates for companies needed to pay to extract coal. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy said it would invest $625 million to upgrade and expand the American coal industry. 

These coordinated actions reflect a significant federal push to reinvigorate coal, despite environmental concerns and the ongoing global shift toward cleaner energy sources. The pursuit of coal is a giant step backwards in the fight against climate change, but there is still time to switch to clean energy alternatives. 

Coal is Old 

According to the US Energy Information Administration, coal production peaked in the United States in 2008 and has declined in output ever since. Output of coal is estimated to decline even further globally in 2026.

According to Global Energy Monitor, there are currently 2,457 coal-fired power plants worldwide, including both operating and mothballed units. To keep global warming below 1.5°C, as targeted by the Paris Climate Agreement, all these plants need to be retired by 2030 in wealthy countries and to meet the Paris Climate Agreement, the equivalent of about two coal plants must be retired per week by 2040.

Coal alone was responsible for approximately 15.4 billion tons of CO2 emissions in 2023, consistently producing more CO2 than any other fossil fuel annually. Despite this, only 12% of coal-fired power plants have been shut down, 11% require accelerated closure plans, and a staggering 77% have no scheduled phaseout or retirement commitment.

Coal is a finite resource with an estimated 134 years left until existing coal mines are considered depleted and when current consumption rates are factored in. Known oil reserves have approximately 51 years left to pump oil on present consumption levels.  

But recent reports indicate that globally, there are over 850 new coal mine plans, expansions, and extensions in various stages of development, particularly concentrated in Asia-Pacific regions like China, India, and Australia. These new projects could add significant capacity to coal production, potentially extending the timeline of coal availability beyond current estimates. 

So while coal is finite, exploration and new discoveries coupled with expanding mining capacity suggest more coal could still be accessible than previously counted.

Coal is Dirty 

During the industrial revolution, coal soot filled the skies of industrial cities, lowering the life expectancy of workers and citizens alike.  According to a 2023 joint study from Harvard University, George Mason University, and University of Texas at Austin, exposure to fine particulate matter from coal-fired power plants (coal PM2.5) is associated with a risk of mortality more than double that of exposure to PM2.5 from other sources. 

Coal miners face even higher risks, both black lung disease and silicosis are commonly diagnosed in miners after years of inhaling coal dust. It has been estimated that at least 16% of coal miners are affected, and in 2018, 1 in 5 coal miners in the central Appalachian region of the United States showed evidence of black lung. 

Particularly vulnerable are “young miners”, with an increase in lung diseases affecting miners in their 40s. There is no cure.  Additionally, many coal miners suffer from mental health issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts, linked to poor working conditions and the physical toll of mining work. The combination of these health crises highlights ongoing occupational hazards faced by coal miners today.

Citizens around the world who use coal as a primary source of fuel also face health risks. Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, is a prime example of this, where frigid winters require people to constantly heat their homes. For many citizens, coal is the only source of affordable fuel available to them.

On top of using coal in their home stoves, locally coal-fired power plants generate the overwhelming majority of the city’s electricity, about 93%. All of this reliance on coal creates smoky skies and rampant health issues. Lung diseases in the capital are common across all ages, while it has been found that Ulaanbaatar’s children have 40% lower lung function than children living in rural Mongolia. 

Coal is Killing Wildlife

Coal poses significant environmental risks beyond its impact on human health. It contains toxic unburnable materials such as heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and arsenic, as well as  radioactive elements like uranium, which remain concentrated in coal ash after combustion.  This coal ash can contaminate ground and surface water.

Furthermore, coal mining often displaces local populations, destroys terrestrial habitats, and harms wildlife. Surface mining, in particular, causes large-scale land disturbance that alter topography, damage groundwater supplies, promote soil erosion, and reduce biodiversity.

Dump Coal

Globally, the highest demand for coal is concentrated in China, India, and Indonesia. With China alone accounting for more than half of the world’s coal production. Despite coal’s dominance, the energy transition is underway — with renewable energy surpassing coal for the first time to become the largest source of electricity generation worldwide. This shift demonstrates that while coal currently fuels much of the world, a cleaner, more sustainable energy future is achievable.

The United Kingdom, once defined by coal in the era of the industrial revolution, shuttered its last coal-fired power plant in 2024, making itself a coal-free nation for the first time in 142 years. 35 other countries have made similar moves, including Germany and South Korea. 

Retired coal plants can be converted into renewable energy plants, as 3D models demonstrate. People power around the world has led a movement to end coal  — activists like Jerry Curran, who through relentless activism, and with major public support, helped to close the Merrimack coal-fired power station in New Hampshire. The station was one of the most polluting power stations in the state and a single-point mercury polluter. 

However, he is not the only one. In the last 14 years, communities across the United States have mobilized to retire 381 coal plants which has saved over 54,000 lives. It may take many, but when we unite, we have the power to make real change. 

Investing In Our Futures

To maintain a green planet for future generations, it is crucial that we divest from fossil fuels and make the switch to renewable energies  —  it’s healthier for the planet, will create new clean jobs and it will save lives. Write to your local leaders encouraging them to back investment in renewable energies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower. 

It is Our Power, Our Planet, and even small actions can lead to big changes if we work together.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Coal Must Go appeared first on Earth Day.

Say ‘energy’ or ‘power plant,’ and the mind conjures images of burning coal, roaring engines, belching smokestacks, and towering factories that dominate the skyline. And that’s reasonable: humans have been using coal-powered plants since 1882, and by 2000, there were 1,024 coal-powered generating plants in the United States alone. But by 2017, this number decreased to 359; by 2024, only 219 of them were still operational.

On the other side, renewable energy plants are on the rise. In 2024, we witnessed a global surge in renewable energy, like wind, solar, and geothermal projects. Here are seven critical — and exciting — facts that will make you realize how the tide has turned on energy. A recent United Nations report claimed, a positive tipping point in the future of green energy has been passed. Here’s some facts that show they are right!

1. Most of the new electricity capacity added to the grid worldwide last year was renewable energy.

2024 was a record year for renewable energy, with  92.5% of the world’s new electricity-generating capacity coming from clean sources. This new energy capacity increase, 585 GW, is enough power for the entire United States for 1.28 years! And this growth shows no sign of slowing; it is projected that we’ll be able to produce triple the energy from renewable sources that we do now by 2030.

With 92.5% of new electricity capacity in 2024 coming from renewables, our energy is shifting—and yes, that’s a pun on both electricity and momentum. Meanwhile fossil fuels projects are still being added to the electricity grid around the world, but not at the same rate, only growing about 1% last year. 

2. Onshore wind, solar panels, and new hydropower are now the cheapest energy sources in the world.

Just this year, the United Nations and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IREA) collectively claimed that renewable energies are now cheaper than fossil fuels — solar energy, once four times more expensive than fossil fuels, is now 41% cheaper, and offshore wind is 53% cheaper. 
These lower costs are seeing many governments incentivizing these cheaper energy generation methods. For instance, if you’re building a new house in Tokyo, the Tokyo government will subsidize the installation of solar panels on your roof, a mandatory requirement for all newly-constructed buildings.

3. 26% of all energy capacity in China is now solar 

According to the Chinese National Energy Administration and Climate Energy Finance’s report, as of December 2024, 26% of China’s energy capacity is met by solar power. One of the largest economies in the world, this giant economy has been supporting renewable energy relentlessly. China installed 373 GW of green energy capacity in 2024, capable of powering the United States for 0.81 years, but can only power China itself for 0.36 years.

Growing at this rate, China is projected to install over 3000 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. Based on China’s annual electricity demand in 2025 (estimated at 3900 GW) and a 16% annual increase rate, renewable energy is expected to account for 36.6% of China’s annual capacity demand by 2030.

In China, the world’s largest electricity consumer, renewable energy plants go far beyond small solar panels on rooftops or outdoor facilities. Massive solar farms and wind turbines are generating energy at a scale that rivals—and in some cases exceeds—coal and petroleum power, producing enough electricity to serve billions of people. This includes the world’s biggest solar farm, Ürümqi Solar Farm near Ürümqi in Xinjiang, has a capacity of 3.5 GW and covers about 32,947 acres. According to Rueters, this farm produces around 6.09 billion kWh annually.

4. 33% growth in global solar installation from 2023 to 2024. 

According to Solar Power Europe’s May 2025 press release, the global solar installation rate grew by 33% from 2023 to 2024. Not only are China and the US enthusiastically installing solar power plants, but the rest of the world is too installing almost 600 GW more solar electricity capacity than in 2023 — a capacity capable of powering the United States for 1.3 years. 

Additionally, if the global adoption of solar power continues to accelerate as it has in China and the U.S., the world could install 1 terawatt (TW) of solar capacity per year by  2030— roughly equal to the total electricity the Earth consumes in three weeks.

Some might argue that this 33% is unrepresentative, as larger countries and certain small countries, such as Paraguay, — which runs entirely on low carbon sources of energy — are skewing the data. Yet, the figure of worldwide solar power capacity has just exceeded 1 TW total in 2022. By 2030, this same capacity can be added every year. The planet is going green, not just a few countries whether some political leaders like it or not.

5. Global sales of electric vehicles have increased by 34 times in the last decade: 500,000 to 17 million (2024).

Electric vehicles (EVs), the most visible consumer-facing product linked to renewable energy, are becoming increasingly common. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EV sales have grown roughly 34-fold over the past decade, reaching 17 million units in 2024. 

EV sales in China increased by almost 40% in 2024, and during the exact same year, EV sales in the EU increased in 14 out of 27 member states in 2024 despite the elimination of EV purchase subsidies in 2023.

However, EVs only count as truly running on renewable energy if they are charged with electricity from clean sources. When powered by renewables, these EVs can displace over 1 million barrels per day of oil consumption per day, showing the importance of pairing electrification with a clean power supply.

Petrol vehicles are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, contributing to climate change and causing illnesses and deaths from pollution-related diseases, estimated to cost $820 billion globally in 2021. Switching to EVs can significantly reduce these emissions and the associated health costs, particularly when the electricity used to charge them comes from clean, renewable sources.

However while EVs undoubtedly reduce emissions, they rely on batteries made from rare earth minerals and other critical materials, meaning their production does have environmental and social impacts that make them a better, but not a perfect solution.
 A greener Earth is the eventual outcome of this grand EV switch, but it is worth noting that consumers also choose EV vehicles because they have fewer moving parts: as EVs do not have complex internal-combustion engines, fuel lines, tanks, pumps, and more, which make them hopefully, easier to repair.

6. Global investment in renewable energy tops $2 trillion.

The 2025 United Nations Energy Transition Report indicated that in 2024, a total of $2 trillion was invested in renewable energy, fossil fuels by comparison received $800 billion in investment in 2024, in the global market. 

For the first time, the world is clearly putting its money where its future is — and that future is renewable!

7. Clean energy created 4.7 million jobs globally.

In 2022, employment numbers in the fossil fuel sector decreased by 1.3 million below pre-pandemic levels. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2022, the global energy industry employed 67 million people, with more than half working in the clean energy sector. 

These jobs include initial planning and equipment procurement, manufacturing, installation, connection, and ongoing operation and maintenance of renewable energy plants and projects. Even more, these renewable energy-contributing jobs are paid 21% higher than the average salary around the world. 

As people make their careers by contributing to a greener world, they are putting themselves in a safer position, both financially and for long term job security. By replacing jobs in the traditional energy sector, renewable energy-related jobs also have the potential to significantly improve public health for workers too. Renewable energy delivers safer jobs, better pay, and a cleaner world for us all.

If you also care about how to make our Earth greener, how to reduce emissions and how to switch to greener energies to root out the problem gradually, sign the Our Power, Our Planet petition to support and demand renewable energy right now.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post 7 Facts that Show Renewable Energy is Unstoppable appeared first on Earth Day.

It’s hard to believe this is still up for debate, but let’s talk about clean, affordable energy that creates jobs, will power data centers and keep our energy costs down.

Renewable energy is no longer a fringe idea; it’s a booming, unstoppable force in the global economy. In the U.S. alone, electricity from solar, wind, and hydropower provided over 22% of total electricity generation in 2024, and globally the generation from renewables just surpassed that of coal for the first time the same year. These renewable energy sources are not some pipe dream, they’re here and growing. 

Jobs? The clean energy industry employs more than 3.56 million Americans; for every million dollars invested in renewable energy, solar alone provides 2.7 times the number of jobs than fossil fuels. Over the next decade, wind turbine technicians and solar photovoltaic installers are projected to be among the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. economy, offering competitive pay and improved safety compared to many other jobs.

And these benefits don’t even factor in how renewable energy significantly reduces air pollution, which in turn will help to lower the estimated  $820 billion spent in annual health costs, caused by  fossil fuel use (as of 2021). From a financial standpoint alone, adopting renewables is a no-brainer.

But instead of leaning into the prospect of the U.S. becoming a world leader in this new energy technology, the Trump administration is digging in its heels, and doing everything it can to sabotage this progress and back 19th century fossil fuels. Not just with incorrect statements that influence public perception (like Trump’s claim that wind turbine noise causes cancer), but with actual policy that blocks and delays clean energy projects.

Given that Great Britain invented the steam engine – the key to the Industrial Revolution, the locomotive, the World Wide Web, the telephone, television, the concept of vaccinations, the jet engine, the Hovercraft, antibiotics, discovered the structure of DNA, and invented radar – amongst many other things – we can be pretty assured that Britain is a ‘smart county’. And what is this smart country doing now? Rapidly embracing renewables, which accounts for 50%of its electricity generation. 

Here are five ways the Trump administration is trying to kill renewable energy and set the United States backwards in the energy industry:

1. The One Big Beautiful Bill – Spending Billions to Fall Behind

Subsidizing fossil fuels in 2025 is like investing in Blockbuster while Netflix takes off…but that’s exactly what this administration is doing. 

The 2025 “One Big Beautiful Bill” significantly increased federal subsidies for fossil fuels. According to a report by Oil Change International, the bill added nearly $40 billion in new subsidies over the next decade, raising the annual total to at least $34.8 billion. This includes $4 billion in additional subsidies each year, marking the largest single-year increase in fossil fuel subsidies in recent years.

At the state level, fossil fuels rack up more public money. Texas handed out approximately $1.4 billion in 2023 alone. In Wyoming, taxpayers could be on the hook for up to $900 million to clean up abandoned oil and gas wells, because fossil fuel companies aren’t required to set aside nearly enough money to cover the cost of plugging them. In Jefferson City, Wyoming alone, taxpayers are looking at a $35,000 clean up. A report from Public Citizen estimates that cleaning up over 89,000 wells on federal lands could cost between $2.9 billion and $17.7 billion, with the highest costs concentrated in states like New Mexico and Wyoming. Across the board, the public is footing the bill so that wealthy oil companies can keep drilling.

What are we getting for all this public spending? Not energy security. Not price stability. While subsidies could be justified politically as tools for energy affordability and security, they are failing on both fronts. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) notes that fossil fuel subsidies distort markets and undermine energy diversification, leaving countries more vulnerable to global supply shocks.

Recent global oil and gas volatility, compounded by geopolitical tensions around the world, shows that fossil fuel price swings persist even when producers receive large publicly funded subsidies. In other words, subsidies stabilize corporate margins, not consumer prices we all pay. One of the reasons U.S. oil and gas production is still considered profitable is because of these vast subsidies. Over 60% percent of fossil fuel companies are still dependent on government support that we all pay for. That’s not a healthy market.

Our oil-based society depends on non-renewable resources. It requires relentless probing into vast reaches of pristine land, sacrificing vital bioregions, and irreplaceable cultures… We must all move shoulder to shoulder in a unified front to show this administration that the true majority of people are willing to vote for a cleaner environment and won’t back down.

Leonardo Dicaprio, Founder, The Leonardo DiCaprio FoundationRenewables are the answer to our energy independence and have historically received less federal support than fossil fuels. We have still seen renewable energy projects and generation capacity increasing exponentially. Imagine how much progress we could make if even a fraction spent on fossil fuel subsidies were redirected to renewables; lower electricity cost, creation of tens of thousands of new jobs, and true energy independence.

2. Trying to Kick Wind and Solar Off Public Lands

In August 2025, the Department of the Interior (DOI) issued Secretarial Order No. 3438, instructing agencies to reevaluate whether federal lands should be used for solar and wind projects. The new criteria prioritize “capacity density”, or how much energy you can get per area.

 It sounds logical to want to limit our use of resources, until you realize it’s a smokescreen. According to a 2017 report, wind and solar need more space per megawatt, but they come with no risk of oil spills and virtually no risk of other pollutants.  

Fossil fuel drilling, on the other hand, leaves behind polluted air, poisoned water, and soil erosion. Because of this once the fossil fuel companies leave the land they leave behind  is often left unusable for decades or even centuries. In contrast, renewable energy projects stay confined to the same pieces of  land  decades without depleting or contaminating it. 

3. They’re Undermining Offshore Wind

On August 8, 2025, the Trump administration launched a full review of all offshore wind regulations, including projects already underway. Officials claim  they want to ensure compliance with Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda and eliminate “preferential treatment” for offshore wind.

Offshore wind is a massive opportunity for the U.S. It could generate more than 2,000 GW of power by 2050, nearly double the current U.S. electricity demand. And it’s not some distant dream. As of 2024, there was an increase of over 27 GW of offshore wind projects in the pipeline, representing tens of thousands of jobs and billions in investment.

Killing these projects doesn’t just waste potential, it hands the future to other countries. The UK, Germany, and China are all aggressively expanding offshore wind projects, while the U.S. stalls. In fact, China already leads the world in installed offshore wind capacity. If we keep dragging our feet, we lose our shot at global leadership and homegrown clean energy jobs.

4. They Eliminated the Renewable Leasing Schedule, So Developers Are Left Guessing

On August 5, 2025, the Department of the Interior (DOI) axed a rule that required the government to publish a 5-year renewable energy leasing schedule. This schedule kept things clear and predictable for companies investing money into clean energy projects on federal land – information that is  essential to any investor.

Renewable energy projects have a lot of moving parts and so take time and dedication to plan, finance, and build. Without a leasing schedule, developers face costly delays and regulatory uncertainty that can derail entire projects. 

For perspective, the permitting process for building a large solar project on federal land usually takes about 3 to 5 years; that includes picking a  location, environmental reviews, and hooking it up to the power grid. But without a clear and predictable process, a lot of that time gets wasted just waiting for approvals or decisions that might never happen. 

5. They’re Burying Every Wind and Solar Project in Red Tape

In July 2025, DOI leadership mandated that all wind and solar decisions be subjected to multi-agency review, including sign-off by the Secretary of the Interior. Again they claim it’s about ending “preferential treatment” for renewables while fossil fuels still get faster reviews and much larger subsidies.

This new red tape seems designed to specifically delay clean energy development, while fossil fuel projects continue to sail through the system, under Trump’s “energy dominance” policy. Meanwhile, the world is heating up and energy prices for U.S consumers are rising fast. 

An Unstoppable Movement

100 percent renewable energy is 100 percent American.Mark Ruffalo

Despite renewable energy’s numerous benefits, the Trump administration is doing everything it can to put the brakes on progress; rigging the rules, rewriting policies, and pushing red tape, all in the name of protecting outdated, polluting industries.This isn’t just short-sighted. It’s dangerous.

The fossil fuel industry has poured $96 million in donations, lobbying and advertisements that directly supported Trump’s re-election campaign and affiliated PACs. Some administration officials even hold personal financial stakes in fossil fuel operations, like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum (whose approval is needed for all wind and solar projects), and profits from oil leases on his own land. 

But here’s the good news: we don’t have to accept it.

If you believe in clean air, good jobs, and a future that runs on common sense, sign the Our Power, Our Planet petition to demand renewable energy now. Send a message to your state lawmakers asking them to stand up against the rollbacks and invest in renewable energy.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post 5 Ways the Trump Administration Is Trying to Kill Renewable Energy (And Why It’s a Terrible Idea) appeared first on Earth Day.

One thing is clear: the transition to renewable power is reshaping our world. From cleaner air, new jobs,  and boundless potential, clean energy — energy sources that produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions — is no longer just an environmental solution but an economic, social, and public health breakthrough. Along coastlines, wind turbines sweep through the air; in deserts, solar panels shimmer under the sun; deep underground, heat rises to provide electricity. In the first half of 2025 alone, $386 billion was invested worldwide in renewable energy projects.  Here are three key reasons why.

Clean Energy = Cheapest Power Source

One of the most persistent misconceptions about renewable energy is that it’s more expensive than fossil fuel like oil, coal and gas. For decades, fossil fuel supporters have leaned in on the idea that renewables couldn’t compete in costs. But global data shows this is not true –  wind and solar are now the cheapest sources of new power generation. 

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has reported the cost of utility-scale solar, or in other words large-scale solar power projects, decreasing by over 90% in the last decade while wind costs have dropped by 70%. 

These  figures represent a historic economic shift. Utility-scale solar for 2025 comes in at around $38–$78 per megawatt-hour, and onshore wind around $37–$86, compared to $71–$173 for coal and $141–$220 for new nuclear. 

Even when you factor in storage or grid upgrades, clean power often undercuts fossil fuels. This means consumers, businesses and utility companies are choosing renewable energy sources not just for environmental reasons but because it’s become the financially viable choice. Cheaper power means lower electricity bills for families and more predictable costs for industries heavily reliant on energy. 

However, a critical factor that also has to be factored in is the drastic rise in energy demand, created by the explosion in the building of data centers to run AI programs like Chat GPT, GEmini, Ai Perplexity, Claude and many more.  

In the U.S. alone, data centers consumed about 176 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2023, accounting for 4.4% of total U.S. electricity use. This demand is projected to nearly double by 2028. Global data center electricity needs could rise by 50% by 2027 and up to 165% by 2030 compared to 2023.  This surge in AI-related energy needs puts pressure on mainstream and renewable grids and infrastructure, making the transition to renewables even more vital.

Renewable Energy is Good for Your Health

Fossil fuels come with a heavy hidden cost that doesn’t show up on electricity bills. According to research by the Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital of Nancy, France and published in the National Library of Medicine, the burning of coal, oil and gas releases carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter are strongly associated with risk of asthma, heart disease and premature death. 

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution is heavily tied to fossil fuel emissions, and kills nearly 7 million people worldwide every single year globally. 91,000 early deaths and hundreds of thousands of health issues are attributed to air pollution caused by the burning of oil and gas in the US alone.

In comparison, solar and wind produce electricity without combustion, meaning no tailpipes, smokestacks or toxic residues. Their small lifecycle emissions come from manufacturing and transporting solar panels and wind turbines. Even when those emissions are included, their total greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction fossil fuels. For example, rooftop solar emits around 43 grams of carbon dioxide on average per kilowatt-hour, compared to coal at roughly 1000 grams and gas at 486 grams.

Cleaner air means healthier communities and reduced healthcare costs due to  decreasing numbers of air pollution-related diseases. It’s not just about saving the planet from climate change, it’s also about saving lives and making the transition to renewable energy is one of the most effective public health strategies available. 

Solar Power = World’s Annual Energy Needs in Just One Hour

In less than one day, the sun delivers enough solar energy to power the entire planet for a year, generating around 21 terawatts. Humanity’s total annual energy consumption in 2024 was 18.77 terawatt. This staggering abundance highlights solar power’s immense potential, though capturing and storing this energy efficiently remains the key challenge.

Today’s solar farms can power cities and rooftop panels give individual homeowners the ability to generate their own electricity. 

Bhadla Solar Park in India is currently one of the world’s largest solar farms, covering 22 square miles with an installed capacity of 2,245 MW. That’s enough to power nearly 1.5 million average U.S. homes or 4.5 million average Indian homes. The London Array Wind Farm off the coast of the UK is one of the largest offshore wind farms globally, generating 630 MW of clean energy annually that powers half a million homes. In the U.S. the Johnson Corner Solar Project  in Stanton County, Kansas, was the state’s largest solar farm when it opened in 2020, with 27.5 MW capacity powering over 5,000 homes but the Boot Hill Solar Project will soon over take it to become Kansas’s largest commercial solar installation, producing 150 MW to power nearly 44,000 homes.

Energy storage technologies like lithium-ion batteries and energy alternatives such as solid-state or flow batteries ensure that solar energy can be captured and used even when it’s dark outside, contrary to what detractors like Doug Burgum, United States Secretary of the Interior, are claiming, solar is not an intermittent energy source!  

Critics like Burgum often argue about intermittency but when solar power is combined with storage and grid upgrades, it can provide a consistent and reliable electricity supply. Harnessing this essentially limitless supply of clean energy will become a cornerstone in the future global economy whether Doug likes it or not!

Renewable Energy Will Power A Clean Future

The evidence is clear: clean energy is healthier, abundant, and is vital for the creation of new jobs in the energy sector. But it is also the only way, long term, that humanity will be able to keep the lights on. 

Every new solar panel or wind turbine marks progress toward a future where electricity is reliable, pollution-free, and accessible to all. The choice is no longer between the environment and the economy — we can have both. By investing in renewables today, we unlock innovation and security for generations to come. The clean energy future is already unfolding. The only question is how quickly we choose to embrace it. 

Join the movement for a cleaner, healthier future. Sign the Our Power, Our Planet petition

today and demand renewable energy now. In the U.S.? Send a message to your state lawmakers asking them to invest in renewable energy.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Clean Energy Saves Money and Lives appeared first on Earth Day.

The transition to renewable energy is far more than an environmental necessity, it is a profound economic and cultural transformation that is reshaping the world. In 2023 alone, clean energy sectors accounted for 10% of global GDP growth, driving prosperity from India to the United States and China, the world’s largest clean energy adopter, where the sector accounted for nearly one fifth of the country’s 5.2% GDP growth.  

The European Union saw nearly a third of its economic growth fueled by renewables that same year. 

This momentum is underpinned by record-breaking investments, such as the $338 billion deployed in clean energy financing in the U.S. in 2025, propelling a surge in solar, wind, and battery storage capacity additions. The U.S. added 50 gigawatts of renewable capacity in 2024, including a record 49 gigawatts of solar power, making renewables the second-largest power source, contributing 24% of electricity generation.

Here are three other ways it is changing the planet and our lives.

Job Creation Outpaces Fossil Fuels

In the U.S. opponents of clean energy often argue it will eliminate jobs but the evidence shows the opposite.  Building solar farms, manufacturing wind turbines, installing rooftop panels and maintaining energy storage facilities all require skilled workers. 

According to the U.S Department of Energy, clean energy jobs already outnumber fossil fuel jobs in the US by three to one. Unlike fossil fuels, which are tied to fixed deposits underground and depend on pipelines, rail lines, or offshore drilling platforms, renewable energy projects can be spread almost anywhere — across rural, suburban, and city neighborhoods — which allows for greater local employment and career growth. 

The transition to renewable energy doesn’t mean job loss, it means job transformation. Roles like turbine technicians and solar installers are projected to grow by 50% and 42% respectively between 2024 and 2034, making them some of the fastest-growing professions in the country. In 2022, the transition was projected to create 10.3 million new jobs globally by 2030 and in 2023 alone the number of newly added jobs increased by 142,000. 

These opportunities,  in power generation, grid modernization, and the automotive sector, offer long-term, stable employment to replace the 2.7 million fossil fuel jobs expected to be lost over the next decade.

Global Momentum Accelerating Investments

Clean energy is not just happening in the US, it’s a global movement. Worldwide, total investments in renewable energy reached a record  $2.1 trillion in 2024. In 2024, China invested $818 billion in the energy transition, while the European Union committed $375 billion and the United States $338 billion, underscoring the scale and competition driving this global shift. 

China, over the course of the last year, has installed more solar capacity than the rest of the world combined and accounts for almost two thirds of utility-scale solar and wind power construction. China’s President Xi Jinping said in a live video message at a climate leaders’ summit at the UN Assembly, hosted by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio said on September 24, 2025, that by 2035 his country would cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 7%-10% from its peak. Much of this is being made possible by China’s move to renewable energy.

Meanwhile, the European Union has accelerated its clean energy targets in response to climate change and the need for energy independence. The EU has completely banned imports of coal from Russia, oil imports have dropped from 27% in 2022 to 3% in 2025, and gas imports have dropped from 45% in 2021 to 19% in 2024.

Morocco and India too are emerging as leaders in the global clean energy transition. Morocco’s renewable projects accounted for around 40% of its installed energy capacity in 2023, with a target to increase that to 52% by 2030. The country’s investment in solar and wind is also helping to fuel their economic growth and energy independence. India, meanwhile, is experiencing one of the fastest rates of renewable electricity growth among major world economies, rapidly expanding its solar and wind capacity to meet both their energy demand and their climate goals.

While both countries remain reliant on fossil fuels, they are supported by the World Bank Group and other financial institutions as they invest heavily to accelerate their clean energy transitions. In fact in 2024, global investment in clean energy climbed to nearly 2 trillion dollars, outpacing fossil fuels at just over 1 trillion dollars and marking a decisive shift in where the world is putting its money. 

These investments are not only about the climate but they’re also about economic competitiveness and national security.

Public and Political Support is Growing

Back in February, the U.S. Department of Transportation froze funding that Congress had previously allocated for new electric vehicle charging stations. In response, a coalition of states sued to unfreeze the money. In June, U.S. District Judge Tana Lin of the Western District of Washington ruled that the Department of Transportation and the administration had “overstepped their Constitutional … authority and have attempted to override the express will of Congress,” leading to the release of the funds.

The money has been withheld under the Trump administration’s review of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program. The ruling underscored the separation of powers and upheld Congress’s authority over federal spending.

Even though the approval process for building new EV charging stations has proven to be slow, as EV charging stations become more widespread and available, EVs will become a more practical option for millions of Americans. 

Historically politicians have shown bipartisan support for renewable energy, helping to embed clean energy incentives into major legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Much of this work to grow the renewable energy industry in the US is now being undermined as the Trump administration seeks to defund renewable energy projects. 

The U.S. The Department of Energy, in its 2025 budget, reduced solar power funding from $318 million to about $42 million and wind power funding from $137 million to $30 million. The administration also rescinded some eligibility for tax credits for renewable energy projects built after 2027, aiming to claw back some of the IRA’s clean energy investments. However cities and states across the U.S are actively setting out their own ambitious renewable targets regardless. 

California has mandated 100% clean energy by 2045, while Texas, despite its oil reputation, leads the nation in wind power. The push for clean energy isn’t just policy, it’s fueled by politicians, consumers, and communities who see the benefits of a cleaner, cheaper and healthier future. 

The evidence supporting the shift to renewable energy is undeniable. Every sign points to a future where clean energy dominates because it makes economic and social sense. There’s no longer a question of if the transition to renewable energy will happen but rather, how quickly the transition will take place. By investing in renewables today, we not only protect our planet but work towards building a healthier future for the generations to come. 

Join the movement for a cleaner, healthier future. Sign the Our Power, Our Planet petition

today and demand renewable energy now. In the U.S.? Send a message to your state lawmakers asking them to invest in renewable energy.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Renewable Energy is About More Than Just Electricity appeared first on Earth Day.

The burning of fossil fuels is causing climate change. Fact. Not a made up belief. Anyone who denies this has a very odd relationship with the truth. 

Another fact is that solar energy is clean, renewable, and the technology is improving annually. However fossil fuel fans continue to try and cling to the status quo by spreading lies about solar. Here’s eight of the most frequent anti-solar arguments and why they are just plain wrong.

1. “Solar Panels Are Inefficient” 

THE CLAIM: Solar panels only convert 17-20% of the sunlight that hits them into electricity,so it is hardly worth it, right?

THE TRUTH: Those figures are being blown away by new advancements in solar panels. Bifacial panels increase efficiency by an additional 30-40% , and multi-junction PV cells can increase efficiency by up to 45%. Systems that track the sun are striving for even greater efficiency.Unlike fossil fuels, which have been inefficient and decades, solar technology is developing quickly. 

2. “They’re way too expensive to install”

THE CLAIM:  The average U.S. homeowner would have to spend $18,600 for a 6.5-kiloWatt solar panel system. 

THE TRUTH: Cost is influenced by your location, and after construction, solar upkeep is as low as $140-180  annually. The average system can save $46,000 over a 25-year period. To further seal the deal, a 30% federal tax credit is available through December 31st, 2025. Unlike fossil fuels, which simply keep raising prices for the same filthy product, solar is an investment that pays off – beautifully.

3. “Solar takes up too much land and harms ecosystems.”

THE CLAIM: Big solar farms sprawl across the land, displacing wildlife.

THE TRUTH: This concern applies mainly to utility-scale solar farms, but it is entirely avoided with residential solar and other small-scale installations. Rooftop solar panels fit neatly on existing buildings—such as homes, schools, and businesses—without disturbing natural habitats. 

Additionally, solar panels can be installed on farm buildings, field edges, parking lots, and other already developed or low-impact areas, minimizing ecosystem disruption. Unlike fossil fuel extraction, which has been destroying habitats for over a century, solar energy can be integrated into our landscapes thoughtfully to protect wildlife and natural ecosystems.

Solar panels used in farming, a practice known as agrivoltaics, provide multiple benefits beyond just energy generation. The panel offers shade that protects plants from heat, reduces water loss, and can even boost yields. They also help capture rainwater, conserve resources, and provide farmers with extra income, all while supporting biodiversity and soil health.

4. “Solar panels contain dangerous materials” 

THE CLAIM: Mining for the minerals that solar panels need to work like lithium, cadmium, gallium, and other materials pose environmental and health risks, plus manufacturing panels emit carbon and silicon dust.

THE TRUTH: While mining minerals like lithium, cadmium, and silicon for solar panels does carry some environmental and health risks, these impacts are manageable and minimized through strong regulations, safety standards, and recycling programs currently in place in many states. 

In contrast, fossil fuel extraction and use cause ongoing pollution and emissions with far fewer safeguards or recycling solutions. The solar industry continues to improve sustainable mining practices to reduce environmental harm while supporting a cleaner energy future.

5. “Solar doesn’t work when the sun’s not shining – it’s intermittent energy!”

THE CLAIM: Solar is unreliable because weather, the seasons and night time make its energy intermittent!

THE TRUTH: Er have you heard of something called storage batteries? While solar energy does indeed depend on the sun, advanced battery storage systems store excess power generated during sunny periods, ensuring reliable electricity day and night.  These batteries can power homes and businesses for hours or even days during cloudy weather or outages, making solar a steady and resilient energy source. 

Plus there is another little thing called  grid connection. Grid connection means your solar panels are linked to the public power grid so you can draw power when your panels aren’t producing. With net metering, you can even sell extra energy you make with your solar panel – for credits or cash, and your utility will pay the difference when you need more power. 

While the sun may take pauses, your electricity does not, and the “always on” nature of fossil fuels results in an unending flow of ugly pollutants.

6. “Solar energy benefits from government subsidies that tip the scales in its favor”

THE CLAIM: Government funding for renewable energy technology, such as solar energy system technology, distorts the energy market and therefore takes away citizens’ freedom to buy from a free market.

THE TRUTH: While the solar industry does benefit from government subsidies—such as the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that offers a 30% credit on installation costs through the end of 2025—these incentives help offset the high upfront costs and accelerate the transition to clean energy. President Trump has cancelled these incentives however in favor of the fossil fuel industry.

In 2022, the United States and the European Union provided $760 billion and $310 billion respectively in subsidies, to the fossil fuel industry. Even though their pollution is driving climate change. Subsidies for solar and renewables are investments in a sustainable future, that just helped to slightly level the playing field against the entrenched fossil fuel sector that has long benefited from decades of financial and policy support without accountability for environmental costs.

7. “The Government has favorites – not fair – boo hoo”

THE CLAIM: It’s unfair to favor one energy source over another.

THE TRUTH: For decades, fossil fuels have received strong support, and their lobbyists have obstructed the advancement of renewable energy. 

In 1975 and 2005, the American Petroleum Institute rejected proposals that would have increased clean technology and efficiency.  Calling solar “favored” ignores the reality that the energy playing field has never been level — and it’s fossil fuels that have been winning by unfair rules and sneaky tactics. 

8. “Oil companies are investing in clean energy anyways”

THE CLAIM: Fossil fuel companies are part of the solution .

THE TRUTH:  According to a  2023  assessment by the International Energy Agency (IEA), fossil fuel companies invest only about 4% of their capital spending—around $30 billion—in clean energy, which accounts for a very small fraction of the global clean energy investment. 

Many of the “green” programs promoted by oil companies are criticized as greenwashing: involving more talk than substantial action. Simply labeling an oil company with a solar or a clean energy logo or over using the color green on the PR – does not change the fact that the industry’s core investments and profits still heavily depend on fossil fuels. But funding is pouring into solar. Overall, real no- fossil fuel related global clean energy investment reached a record $1.8 trillion in 2023, vastly outpacing fossil fuel spending. 

Solar is the Future – Sorry Fossils!

The majority of arguments against solar ultimately fall flat when confronted with the facts, and the difference between solar and fossil fuels is clear. Want to take a deeper dive – read our Explainer- Can The World Run On Sunshine?

Fossil fuels leave behind oil spills, poisonous air, and an unaffordable climate bill.  They are also messy, finite, and expensive for the environment and our finances. Solar energy is more cost-effective, greener, and always evolving with new technologies and increased efficiency. Solar also does not pollute our air and water, unlike all things fossil fuel.

We have a brighter alternative just above our heads every day, so why continue to pay the ugly price of gas, coal, and oil when the sun won’t be sending us a bill anytime soon?

To keep America’s water and air clean we need a strong Environmental Protection Agency, but the present administration has other ideas. Read our EPA statement on their latest attacks on clean air and clean water here, and take action.

If you care about the environment, and are in the U.S., we need your voice. Add your name to our public comments on the EPA’s intentions to gut the agency’s ability to regulate pollution due to climate change, also known as the Endangerment Finding.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post 8 Lies About Solar Energy That Make Fossil Fuels Look Extra Ugly appeared first on Earth Day.

We have been harnessing the power of the wind for thousands of years: it helped ancient Egyptians propel their vessels down the river Nile, the Chinese, as early as 200 BC, to pump water and from the 7th to 9th centuries in Persia was used to grind grain.

Wind energy is pretty much the rock star of renewables worldwide—and the biggest headliner in the U.S. renewable concert, providing over 10% of America’s electricity. Thanks to wind, our atmosphere dodges 351 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year. That’s a lot of hot air we’re not letting hang around—literally! Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas that traps heat like a clingy ex, driving climate change and global warming. Not something up for debate; it’s fact, plain and simple.

Now, here’s a fun stat: a 2020-model wind turbine can spin up enough juice in just 46 minutes to power your average American home for a whole month. Talk about efficient multitasking!

Yet, despite all this green goodness, wind energy still gets a bad rap. The current Administration? Let’s just say they’re not sending wind turbines thank you notes anytime soon. So, let’s blow away five common myths about wind power and show why they’re just full of hot air—because wind energy deserves better than that!

1. Wind is For the Woke?

Think wind energy is just a trend of the “woke”? Think again. Nearly 70% of America’s wind power is cranked out in states proudly flying the Republican flag. These red states are quietly leading the charge on wind energy, proving clean power isn’t just a blue state fad.

Let’s talk Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Dakota: the wind energy powerhouses where thousands of jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance are keeping the turbines spinning and the economy humming. Want proof? Iowa bagged over 1,100 clean energy jobs thanks to wind turbine projects supported by the Inflation Reduction Act alone.

Across these states and others like Georgia and Nevada, clean energy factories have whipped up more than 120,000 jobs and generated billions in economic oomph. So, when it comes to wind energy, it’s not about the color of your state’s politics—it’s about jobs, cheaper energy, and a thriving planet. Our 2025 theme,  Our Power, Our Planet, “Our Power, Our Planet,” puts wind energy front and center as the job creator and climate hero it truly is.

2. Wind Kills Whales and Other Wildlife?

While the goal of clean energy is to create a renewable supply of energy, create cheap electricity, jobs, provide national energy independence and help preserve and protect nature, there are concerns that wind turbines may be hurting wildlife.  There’s been a steady drumbeat from the present U.S administration about wind turbines killing whales.

There is currently no scientific evidence that offshore wind turbines kill whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. government scientific agency within the Department of Commerce, has found no credible links between wind turbine activity—such as construction noise or operation—and whale deaths or strandings along the U.S. East Coast. 

Studies show that the primary human threats to whales remain vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, not wind farms. Whales are also impacted by shipping lanes, oil spills, water pollution and plastic garbage. 

Leading experts and  organizations emphasize that claims connecting whale mortality to offshore wind development are unsubstantiated by data and often stem from food old-fashioned mistruth. 

What is true is that wind turbines do pose a real risk to birds and bats, which can collide with the blades. However, the wind energy industry and researchers have developed and are implementing a range of measures to protect wildlife and minimize impacts.

During planning, wind farms carefully choose locations to avoid key bird nesting sites, migration corridors, and areas with high prey populations. Construction activities are scheduled to avoid sensitive breeding seasons. Once operational, wind farms continuously monitor wildlife activity using technologies such as thermal and radar cameras to detect birds and bats in the area.

When animals are detected nearby, turbines can be slowed or even temporarily shut down—a process called “curtailment”—to prevent collisions. Painting some blades black has also been shown to improve blade visibility and help birds avoid crashes.

Compared with other threats to bird populations such as collisions with buildings and predation by cats, bird fatalities from wind turbines represent a small fraction. Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management, combined with emerging technologies like deterrents and detection systems, are reducing risks further.

3. Wind is Expensive?

Installing a wind turbine isn’t cheap. For a typical commercial turbine, you’re looking at anywhere between $2.6 and $4 million upfront, with bigger turbines costing even more. That usually breaks down to about $1.3 million per megawatt (MW) of power, and trust me, these beasts pack 2 to 3 MW each—more juice than your average home will ever guzzle.

Fossil fuels might seem cheaper at first glance, thanks to decades of well-oiled infrastructure and government subsidies, plus that endless supply of “free” dirt under the ground. But when you start adding in the hidden costs—think polluted air, health bills, and climate chaos—wind energy wins the long game as the more wallet-friendly choice.

And here’s the kicker: wind power isn’t just holding steady, it’s getting cheaper faster than a breeze in the spring. New turbines can now churn out electricity for as low as $79 to $129 per megawatt-hour, giving fossil fuels a run for their money. Between 2010 and 2021, the cost of onshore wind dropped a jaw-dropping 68%, flipping the script from nearly double the price of fossil fuels to about half as much.

So sure, the sticker shock at first may make you do a double-take, but in the grand energy showdown—wind’s got some serious staying power.

4. Wind Takes up Land?

The topic of how much space wind turbines need often raises eyebrows—and understandably so. These tall towers require their personal bubble to operate efficiently, with turbines spaced up to 4,000 feet apart (that’s about three-quarters of a mile, or roughly the length of 13 football fields lined up end to end).

But here’s the twist: unlike smokestack-heavy power plants that hog every inch of their real estate, wind farms are more like polite neighbors. The land around the turbines remains open and multipurpose—farmers happily plant crops or graze livestock between the giant fans, collecting a second income from the breezy bonus.

And if you think wind energy is just about landlocked giants hogging space, think again. Offshore wind farms are booming, expanding America’s clean energy footprint out to sea. These projects don’t compete for your backyard lawn but instead tap the vast marine ‘real estate.’ In fact, offshore wind capacity in the U.S. jumped a whopping 53% between 2023 and 2024 alone.

So yes, wind turbines need their space, but that space isn’t wasted—it’s working double time for both energy and agriculture, and increasingly, the open ocean is joining the party.

5. Wind is Inefficient As an Energy Source?

It’s true—wind doesn’t blow 24/7, which leads some to write off wind energy as intermittent  or inefficient. But here’s the secret: wind turbines don’t need a hurricane to work. Their “cut-in speed,” or the breeze that gets the blades spinning, is typically just a gentle 6 to 9 miles per hour—think light jacket weather, not a tornado warning.

Now here’s where it gets fun: each time the wind speed doubles, the power output doesn’t just double—it multiplies by eight. So a boost from a gentle breeze to a stronger gust can supercharge your turbine’s electricity production. Of course, when winds get too wild—above a threshold called the “cut-out speed”—the turbine knows when to take a breather and safely shut down.

Even if the wind occasionally takes a break, wind energy pairs beautifully with solar and hydropower. Store the surplus juice in batteries during calm or nighttime hours, and pull from that reservoir when demand spikes. It’s teamwork that keeps the lights on, come rain, shine, or calm breeze.

How to Support Wind Power

Though no process of energy production is completely perfect, wind energy is clearly a form of renewable energy we should be embracing. Here are some ways that you can add your voice to the pro wind and renewable energy debate.

First, you can support wind and other forms of renewable energy through EARTHDAY.ORG’s 2025 theme Our Power, Our Planet, a call for renewable energy to be tripled globally by 2030. 

You can also check out some EARTHDAY.ORG quizzes like our Renewable Energy Quiz to test your knowledge on wind and other forms of renewable energy so you can easily spot misconceptions regarding these topics in the future. 

You also have the power (and energy!) to make a difference to support the planet’s health in other ways. Right now the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect us from greenhouse gases is under attack from the EPOA itself. LEt them know you care and want to safeguard the EPA’s power, write them HERE.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use with attribution. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post  5 Myths About Wind Energy That Will Blow You Away appeared first on Earth Day.

Thanks to the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” repealing renewable tax credits, switching to solar may become a little more expensive in the U.S. But this isn’t the case for people in many countries around the world who are increasingly leading the renewable energy movement.

Asia and Africa are solarizing faster than North America and Europe, despite lower GDPs per capita- meaning that the idea that solar starts in rich, western countries and the rest of the world follows is being flipped on its head. How are they doing it? And what can the rest of the world learn from them?

Pakistan is Solarizing To Keep Cool

As climate change heat waves in Pakistan are getting hotter and longer. Temperatures can climb past 100 degrees Fahrenheit regularly, this April reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. People have to find a way to cool down, and thanks to cheap solar panels from China, solar is more accessible to the masses than ever before. This is why Pakistan is building solar power infrastructure, faster than other developing countries around the world. 

China made 93% of the world’s polysilicon in 2023, the main material used in solar panels, allowing them to make solar panels faster than anyone else and then sell them cheapest. This surplus of cheap solar has made it more readily available, and with rising grid electricity costs, there has been no better time in Pakistan to make the switch to renewable energy. Not because it is better for the environment, but because it is the most economical choice to survive rising temperatures and costs. This means that unlike many other solar movements driven by subsidies and government incentives, Pakistan’s solar revolution is grassroots. 

Grassroots = Unstoppable

The movement is not exclusive to urban areas, it is spreading all throughout Pakistan. Almost 50% of villages in lower Punjab and upper Sindh, the first and second most populous provinces in Pakistan, have solar.  

Often this involves the community sharing their solar infrastructure  – for example in one village, three different families share one solar system stored in a tractor. In another, people use the solar panels during the day, and the farmer who owns the panel takes it back to his house later in the day to use for himself. Community collaboration like this is why people-led solar has taken off in Pakistan.

While this rapid and far reaching solar development has helped the environment by reducing the burning of harmful fossil fuels, and makes electricity affordable, there are some issues that need to be addressed. By solarizing and moving away from the expensive power grid, prices for those who have not yet made the switch may rise. While this incentivizes switching, it punishes those who cannot afford to switch, and in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees fahrenheit, this is a serious safety issue. 

This is why Amjad calls upon the Pakistani government to step in and regulate the market. “Now it’s more about flexible supply to meet flexible demand,” he says of the grid’s need to adapt to new energy needs.

Beyond Pakistan – Solar is Spreading

Beyond Pakistan, countries across Africa are making great strides in solar. Central and West Africa in particular are rapidly embracing solar, with Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria all getting in on the power of sunshine.

Uniquely, people with no access to grid electricity now have access to it for the first time via solar. Rather than replacing existing infrastructure, solar is the original infrastructure for many communities. Plus, many of the solar companies making it possible are locally owned and committed to serving their own communities, building energy infrastructure without paternalistic Western aid. 

The Global Solar Council, a membership-based trade association representing over 97% of the world’s installed solar power capacity, published a report showing that the African solar sector is set to grow 42% in 2025 alone. Most impressively, Africa will more than double their current solar capacity by 2028. While the United States rolls back policies that support the growth of renewable energy domestically, Africa is becoming a solar trailblazer. 

In Bangladesh, solar is being installed rapidly all over the country.  By 2018, over 4 million solar systems had been installed, made possible by microfinancing from grassroots organizations. 

Microfinancing is a practice most often utilized in developing countries that allows low income families, who may not otherwise have access to loans and other financial resources, to finance life-changing ventures, such as starting a business, or, in this case, installing solar panels.  Here, again, we see that green practices and people-led development go hand in hand. 

Keeping this shift to solar going means supporting local initiatives, and regulating energy companies, both grid and solar, to ensure that no one is priced out of the electricity they need. 

We must pressure world leaders to invest in solar to support and uplift these movements, help us do this by signing the petition. 

Local politicians also have a big role to play in uplifting the growth of renewable energy, especially here in the U.S where the industry is under attack. Please send a letter to your local U.S representatives to let them know they must back policies that push renewable energy and help bring all of our energy bills down!

The post Solar is Shining Bright in Pakistan appeared first on Earth Day.