Misinformation & Disinformation in Solar

by Patrice ‘Pete’ Parsons, TXSES Executive Director

Although a Pew Research Center survey found last June that “67% of U.S. adults prioritize the development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen power over increasing the production of fossil fuel energy sources,” these positive thoughts can be quickly undermined when false narratives enter the picture, as highlighted in Solar Today‘s article last month, It’s Time to Stand up for Solar.

Much of the disinformation on renewables originates from “deliberately misleading sources,” such as bogus so-called “local” organizations, ultimately funded by those in the fossil fuel industry, according to a recent report from Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, “Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles.” The report looked at the 14 most commonly circulated false claims and refuted them with the goal of providing correct information to communities.

Since going into all of them would create an exceptionally long article, I have pulled a few of the most outrageous ones mentioned in the report, with the Center’s debunked responses.

False Claim #1: Electromagnetic fields from solar farms are harmful to human health.

Multiple studies have shown that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) created on solar farms are not harmful to humans and in fact are “similar in strength and frequency to those of toaster ovens and other household appliances.” The highest emissions of EMFs on solar farms come from inverters, and “even when standing next to the very largest inverter at a utility-scale solar farm, one’s exposure level (up to 1,050 milligauss, or mG) is less than one’s exposure level while operating an electric can opener (up to 1,500 mG), and well within accepted exposure limits (up to 2,000 mG).”

False Claim #2: Toxic heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, leach out from solar panels and pose a threat to human health.

The cadmium sometimes found in solar panels (used in about 40% of new panels in the U.S. and 5% of new panels in the world) is actually cadmium telluride—a non-volatile, non-water-soluble material with “1/100th the toxicity of free cadmium,” which is encapsulated in the panel.

Small amounts of lead can be found in most solar panels, as it is in many electronics. According to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DER), however, “because PV panel materials are enclosed, and don’t mix with water or vaporize into the air, there is little, if any, risk of chemical releases to the environment during normal use.” They further found that “even in the unlikely event of panel breakage, releases of chemicals used in solar panels are ‘not a concern.’” The study points out that all materials in the panel are “encased in tempered glass that not only withstands high temperatures… (and are) also strong enough to pass hail tests and is regularly installed in Arctic and Antarctic conditions.” Even if one were to catch fire at temperatures hot enough to melt glass, it would still remain encased in the melted glass.

False Claim #4: Clearing trees for solar panels negates any climate change benefits.

It turns out that this is not a big issue in the U.S., as only about 4% of solar projects are being developed on forested lands here, but the report found that “an acre of solar panels in the United States usually offsets significantly more carbon dioxide emissions than an acre of planted trees can sequester.” According to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, an average acre of U.S. forest sequesters 0.857 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually. Based on the amount of emissions the average acre of solar panels displaces from natural gas-fired power plant use, they would end up reducing approximately 204–231 times more carbon dioxide per year than an acre of forest.

False Claim #5: Solar energy is worse for the climate than burning fossil fuels.

Overwhelming evidence shows that “the lifecycle emissions of solar energy are far lower than those of all fossil fuel sources, including natural gas,” according to the report. “On average, it takes only three years after installation for a solar panel to offset emissions from its production and transportation. Modern solar panels have a functional lifecycle of 30–35 years, allowing more than enough time to achieve carbon neutrality and generate new emissions-free energy.”

False Claim #10: Utility-scale solar farms destroy the value of nearby homes.

Multiple studies have shown that solar farms typically have nominal impact on the value of the homes closest to it. The report cites the largest study to date, covering six states and 1.8 million homes, which found that homes “within 0.5 miles of solar farms were found to experience price reductions of 1.5%, compared to those 2–4 miles away… and homes located more than 1 mile from a solar farm had no statistically significant price difference.” Other studies found no impact on homes in rural areas, as opposed to those with a slight difference in suburban areas, where space is more competitive.

False Claim #11: Solar energy is more expensive than fossil fuels and completely dependent on subsidies.

The report shares that “unsubsidized solar energy is now generally cheaper than fossil fuels” and that according to the International Energy Agency, photovoltaic solar power is “the cheapest source of new electricity generation in most parts of the world,” and “now the cheapest source of electricity in history” for projects with low-cost financing that tap high quality resources.”

They also note that fossil fuels continue to receive subsidies—$2.1 billion in 2022—although that is now less than renewable energy receives.

False Claim #12: Solar panels don’t work in cold or cloudy climates.

Although clouds can reduce solar power by up to 45%, solar panels do continue to generate energy. Cold temperatures do not affect output at all, however, and actually “increase solar panel efficiency by increasing voltage.”