Peter GleickJul 18, 2025
Weird how the fossil fuel industry claims it's renewables that are expensive.
My solar panels paid for themselves in 7 years (instead of the predicted 13) and our solar electricity is free now. And it runs our car.
Show threadPeter GleickJul 18, 2025
Also, of course, the price of fossil fuels has never included their full true cost: climate change, military expenses to protect Middle East oil partners, health effects of pollution, contamination of groundwater by fracking, ad infinitum.
Show threadZimmieJul 18, 2025

@petergleick Photovoltaic solar cost also generally doesn’t include contamination of groundwater. When the panels break (e.g, from hail), the heavy metals contaminate the landfills where they end up.

Photovoltaic solar is nowhere near as bad as coal, oil, or methane, of course. It’s just weird how people always leave off the toxic waste it produces.

Show threadmau 🏳️‍🌈#EndFossilFuels

@bob_zim @petergleick Which heavy metals?

Most solar panels contain only trace amounts of lead for some connections, and we run TCLP tests on them to certify that they don't leach.

Cadmium Telluride is a tiny fraction of the market, and the only producer (also, the only solar company in the USA) has a comprehensive recycling program.

https://www.usvschools.org/Downloads/TCLP%20Results%20-%20LONGi%20Module%20-%20As%20delivered%20(1).pdf

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cen-09615-cover2

https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2203640

Jul 18, 2025 at 9:00pmWeb