Feeling like you’re doing the right thing doesn’t mean you are. For years, I felt like I was protecting the environment. I was wrong! But I couldn’t admit it. My sense of identity was tied to false beliefs about energy–myths that blinded me to what *does* help the planet:
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2/ MYTH: Solar & wind power are the best ways to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Fact: The biggest emissions reductions over the last 15 yrs have been due to shifts from coal to natural gas.
Natural gas produces only 10% of the air pollutants & 50% the CO2 that coal does.
3/ MYTH: The world is transitioning to solar, wind & batteries.
Fact A: Solar & wind produce only <3% of global energy, after $2.7 TRILLION invested over the last decade.
Fact B: Solar, wind & batteries over-consume minerals & land, & are too unreliable & expensive at scale.
4/ MYTH: Solar farms reduce household utility bills.
Fact: Households pay more for electricity where governments mandate solar power:
In the US: 11% more in the 29 states with solar mandates.
In CA: 80% more than the US avg.
In Germany: electric bills have doubled.
5/ MYTH: Nuclear power is dangerous.
Fact: Nuclear is the safest, most powerful & reliable way to generate low-emission electricity.
Only ~200 people have died as a result of nuclear energy in 60+ yrs. This number includes the Chernobyl, 3 Mile Island and Fukushima accidents.
6/
Fact: EVEN IF you count the cancer diagnoses among people exposed to radiation, the harm from nuclear plant accidents remains minuscule, in contrast with the *millions* who die every year from the effects of air pollution from coal.
7/ MYTH: Nuclear waste is a big problem.
Fact: Nuclear is the only energy source that prevents waste from going into the environment.
All the nuclear fuel ever generated in the US is safely contained & can fit on a single football field stacked less than 10 yards high.
8/ Fact: Used nuclear fuel is not strictly “waste” because it can be recycled to make new fuel and byproducts in the future.
More than 90% of its potential energy still remains in the fuel, even after five years of operating in a reactor.
energy.gov/ne/articles/5-…
9/ MYTH: Electric vehicles (EV) reduce CO2 emissions.
Fact: EVs shift emissions from the tailpipe to the power plant. If the power source is dirty, so is the EV.
50%+ of new EV sales are expected in China where plants are mostly fueled by coal.
techcrunch.com/2021/08/22/the…
10/ MYTH: Climate risk is the biggest threat to developing countries.
Fact: Energy poverty is a bigger threat & causes 10M premature deaths per year. 2B ppl worldwide only get enough electricity to power a refrigerator. 1B have none & use wood or dung for cooking & heating.
11/ Fact: Reducing energy poverty & fueling economic growth have reduced deaths from natural disasters 95% in the past 100 years while promoting better healthcare, education & economic opportunity.
12/ MYTH: Countries honor their climate pledges.
Fact: Energy security takes precedence over environmental pledges.
Example: Japan plans to increase reliance on oil and gas from 34.7% in 2019 to more than 60% in 2040.
bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
13/ MYTH: Fossil fuels are running out.
Fact: Oil & natural gas reserves keep growing.
eia.gov/naturalgas/cru…
14/ Another fact: We’ll likely stop burning fossil fuels before we ever run out.
Oceanic methane hydrates could potentially supply the world with more than 1 million exajoules of energy, equivalent to 1,000s of years of current global energy demand.
foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/09/fra…
15/ MYTH: More energy consumption is bad.
Fact: More energy consumption improves human flourishing & the environment.
Energy improves:
Lifespan
Health & nutrition
Literacy
Climate risk
Water quality & sanitation
Habitat preservation
Pollution
Gender inequality
16/ These myths distorted my view of the facts. I believed I was acting morally & protecting the well-being of people & the planet, but I was really harming both.
My ignorance prevented me from making a real difference, and I see other people making the same mistakes today.
17/ These myths are now driving bad investments & policy decisions.
Days & dollars spent on them cause harm & suffering to the poorest among us–a high cost for false moral comfort.
Let’s build an energy system that maximizes human flourishing & minimizes environmental harm.
18/ What We Need To Do:
End subsidies and incentives for solar & wind
Retire the dirtiest coal power plants
Build new efficient natural gas power plants (and hydro and geothermal where possible)
Reform regulations & build nuclear power plants
Invest in energy R&D
If you liked my tweet thread on energy myths you may be interested in listening to my conversation with @max_gagliardi where dig into these myths in more detail.
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