The Biden administration has recently passed the Inflation Reduction Act which includes billions of dollars earmarked for clean energy initiatives. However, the environment remains a global concern. The UN recently issued an alarming report that the planet is well off the pace to hit its greenhouse gas emissions goals. Solar energy is often discussed as one of the main solutions to the climate crisis. The Department of Energy estimates that as much as 40% of the U.S. could be powered by solar by 2035. However, Straight Arrow News contributor Peter Zeihan cautions that solar energy may be more of a problem for the environment than we realize.

Excerpted from Peter’s Dec. 21 “Zeihan on Geopolitics” newsletter:

After a strenuous trek to Quartzite Peak, the views are what make it all worth it. While we’re on the topic of things that we hope are worth it, let’s talk about Greentech – solar and wind in particular.

The underlying goal of these green solutions is to produce clean energy at scale, that can be effectively used. Solar has surged into the spotlight, but the shadow it casts is often overlooked. I’m not saying there’s no place for solar energy, but hefty considerations need to be made beforehand.

Wind offers a more promising outlook; lower environmental impacts, reliability and better financials. However, both of these technologies have a long way to go before they are powering the world efficiently and effectively.

Now, does that mean that solar is pointless, you can’t put it anywhere? Of course not. If you’re put in a sunny place, say Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I live in Denver, Durban, South Africa, most places in say, Italy or Greece, there are a lot of places where it makes a lot of sense. But there are far more where it makes none whatsoever. And then of course, there’s a transmission issue. 

You don’t put panels in New York, because it’s too densely populated. You have to put them outside of the city. And if you want to put them outside the city far enough away that they actually generate a meaningful trickle of power, you’re talking then about wiring it at least 500 miles. And now you have another issue with transmission and all the things that go with that.