Misconceptions about renewable energy, electric vehicles, batteries, the electricity grid, and the clean energy transition abound. From the merely misinformed to the outright misleading, dubious information can fuel doubts about the economic, health, and climate benefits of clean energy solutions, and worse, can slow action on climate change.
Debunking these myths is critical to accelerating the clean energy transition. That is why RMI is developing a growing catalog of “Reality Check” articles that distinguish fact from fiction and set the record straight on some of the misconceptions hindering climate action.
To learn more about the fundamentals of the energy transition, also check out our library of “Clean Energy 101” explainers.
Focusing on how resources on the grid work together — instead of focusing on the characteristics of any individual resource — can unlock the most effective and affordable solutions to ensure reliable electric power.
We have what we need to power America through the next phase of economic growth with clean energy.
By deploying solar + storage microgrids in our communities before hurricanes strike, they will save customers money in the long run, provide valuable electric grid services that will decrease carbon emissions overall, and already be in place when they are needed in times of crisis.
Grid outages in extreme weather are a fossil fuel problem, not a renewable energy problem.
Excess reliance on CDR could slow or increase the cost of reaching our climate goals, so reduction should be prioritized wherever possible. However, the science is clear: CDR will be needed to reach those goals.
This technology could be a significant piece of the carbon removal puzzle, but we need to act now for it to make a meaningful impact.
In March, we wrote about climate math. Three weeks later, the topic was a political lightning rod. But there’s more to the story.
Risky banks may need saving, but climate tech startups don’t.
Policymakers and consumers alike are reconsidering the health risks and climate damage associated with gas stoves. Here are six simple truths to guide the conversation.
The US electric grid is fragmented into independent grids and transmission planning regions, which poses a threat to reliability, especially during increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
A slew of new hydrogen projects in the works, coupled with sky-high fossil energy prices, point to a significant near-term role for green hydrogen.
Every method of hydrogen production carries different emissions risks, but strictly managed supply chains can maximize hydrogen’s climate benefits.
Hydrogen’s versatility as a decarbonization solution has created a lack of consensus and clarity as to where it is truly needed.
Despite people’s misconceptions, electric trucks could effectively replace up to half of trucks on the road today.
The climate benefit from a well-regulated clean hydrogen economy outweighs the impact of any emissions that hydrogen would add to our energy system.
The time is now for electric vehicles.
This year, Europe will likely spend nearly $1 trillion on energy. Although the continent has lived through energy crises before, this one has especially high stakes because of the confluence of geopolitical tensions and the raging debate over energy transition policy.
Nebraska public officials adopted net-zero carbon goals across the electricity sector.
The faster we deploy renewables, the more money we will save in energy costs.
Currently available renewable energy technologies are often cheaper than gas.
Accessible alternatives to “critical materials” can make excellent EV batteries, solar cells, and wind turbines.
