Donald Trump seems to be very confused about the fastest-growing source of electricity.
Our Republican Presidential nominee went on a rant against solar and wind power during his campaigning in Pennsylvania this week. Trump first bashed solar power:
“It’s so expensive. And honestly, it’s not working so good. I know a lot about solar. I love solar. But the payback is what, 18 years? Oh great, let me do it. Eighteen years.”
The truth is the cost of solar has declined an amazing 70 percent in the last eight years. Trump is also incorrect about the return on investment. For example, the return in California is only nine years. In other states, such as New Jersey, is only seven years.
And solar is growing fast. It is the fastest growing source of electricity generation, with solar installations set to nearly double in 2016.
Trump also bashed wind power:
“The wind kills all your birds. All your birds, killed. You know, the environmentalists never talk about that.”
Fact checked again, Mr Trump. Wind turbines account for very little bird deaths, as represented by the American Wind Energy Association’s chart below:
Some people have old or incorrect data about #windpower‘s impacts.This chart puts things into context. #windworks pic.twitter.com/oLd63mL5sf
— American Wind Energy (@AWEA) August 2, 2016
Trump is clearly not the candidate for environmentally-conscience voters. He does not believe in the science of climate change, has vowed to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement, and obviously isn’t knowledgeable on alternative energy sources.
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