Happy Earth Day! Our Power, Our Planet is the theme for Earth Day 2025. The call to action is for each of us to unite behind renewable energy in order to meet an ambitious goal of tripling global production of clean electricity by 2030.

Today’s post busts some common renewable energy myths and provides informative and reliable resources to help you learn more about the green energy that will power our future.

Seeking reliable information

In 2025, renewable energy is under threat as countries with the influence and financial resources to lead the way continue to cave to the rich and powerful fossil fuel lobby. It’s more important than ever to reject misinformation and learn from reliable sources.

To celebrate Earth Day 2025, Krista and Alison from A Sustainably Simple Life have written an excellent renewable energy series. Visit their site to learn more about hydro energy, solar power, wind energy and more.

Then, drop by earthday.org and take their Renewable Energy Quiz.

Busting renewable energy myths

Fossil fuel companies have deep pockets. To keep you buying their products, they spend a lot of money perpetuating myths about green energy.

Clean Energy Canada has a terrific piece on their website to clarify misinformation about wind and solar power. I’ve summarized the findings here, but I encourage you to visit Addressing common myths around renewable power on the Clean Energy Canada site for statistics and full details.

MYTH: Renewables only work when the wind blows and the sun shines

This myth fuels fears of reliability. No-one wants to deal with the inconvenience of a power failure.

It’s true that wind and solar power production is variable and weather dependent. However, they can work in combination with other sources to make an important contribution to energy supply. A look around the world shows examples of countries producing more than 60% of their electricity from wind and solar power.

MYTH: Renewable energy is expensive

Renewables are already one of the cheapest sources of electricity in Canada and the United States. A recent study showed that wind and solar electricity in Ontario and Alberta are cost-competitive with natural gas generation. And renewables will get cheaper as supply increases.

MYTH: Renewable energy isn’t clean because of the resources needed to build solar panels and wind turbines

Building solar panels and wind turbines does take resources, but so does fossil fuel production. A U.S. study compared the lifecycle emissions of different energy sources. It found the total lifecycle emissions from natural gas power is almost 40 times that of wind and more than 10 times that of solar. 

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MYTH: Renewable energy isn’t clean when you consider equipment waste at end of life

Although many of their components are recyclable, most wind turbines and solar panels end up in landfill at the end of their useful life. However, renewables generate significantly less waste than fossil fuels. And recycling solutions for wind turbine and solar panel components will increase over time.

MYTH: Renewables are great for other countries but not for Canada

This one baffles me. I can only guess that our cooler northern climate is the reason anyone would think this. But Canada has no shortage of wind, especially on our Atlantic coast, and the sunny southern prairies have strong potential for solar energy production.  

In a 2021 study of over 40 countries, Canada ranked second in terms of the ability of solar and wind to meet electricity demand.

Despite what climate deniers would have you believe, renewable energy is a reliable and viable energy source. It is the way of the future.

For now, it’s up to all of us to be good stewards of the energy we use—no matter what the source. Visit my earlier post, 20 home energy saving tips – Save money & reduce your impact, for practical tips you can apply right away.

Have you heard any of these myths about green energy? Did any of the facts surprise you? Drop me a comment below and let me know.