New report refutes 33 false claims about solar, wind and electric vehicles

Reaching the US’ formidable emissions reduction goals relies upon largely on the rapid adoption of wind and photo voltaic power and the electrification of shopper autos. Nevertheless, misinformation and coordinated disinformation about renewable power is widespread and threatens to undermine public support for the transition.

In a new reportthe Sabin Middle for Local weather Change Legislation, an affiliate of the Columbia Local weather Faculty, identifies and examines 33 of essentially the most pervasive false claims about photo voltaic power, wind energy and electric vehicleswith the goal of selling a extra knowledgeable dialogue.

Many of those false claims heart on three classes of impacts generally attributed to renewable power improvement: impacts to the surroundings, impacts to human well being, and impacts to the economic system. For instance, our report examines the frequent misconceptions that electrical autos have a web dangerous impact on local weather change (they do not); that electromagnetic radiation from wind turbines poses a menace to human well being (it does not); and that solar energy improvement negatively impacts U.S. jobs (it doesn’t).

Among the misconceptions examined within the report, such because the notion that whale deaths stem from noise associated to wind farm surveys, are entirely unsubstantiated. Others have some factual foundation however are generally repeated with out crucial context: for example, the notion that solar panels produce important waste, with out the context that fossil fuel energy generates far more.

To determine the most typical false claims relating to wind, photo voltaic and electrical autos, the authors of the Sabin Middle’s new report first reviewed social-media teams and web sites created to oppose renewable energy projects or insurance policies, in addition to current protection about misinformation.

The authors then developed clear, fact-based responses to those false claims, relying to the best extent attainable on peer-reviewed tutorial literature and authorities publications. The authors designed the report in order that members of the general public can domesticate balanced and knowledgeable opinions on frequently-contested subjects associated to renewable power and electrical automobile deployment.

The Sabin Middle’s report needs to be learn along side different truth checks and research refuting false claims about renewable power and electrical autos, akin to these revealed by EPA, RMI, U.S. Today, Carbon Briefthe Center for American Progressthe Annenberg Public Coverage Middle’s web site FactCheck.org, the Brown Climate and Development Lab and Heated.

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia College http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.