The renewable sources of energy, e.g. solar electric, solar thermal, wind, etc., are renewable, but, all of these degrade the environment, and their ecological effects are negative and still to be accurately determined (may take long to determine). Take solar cells for example; its fabrication makes use of toxic and carcinogenic gases (e.g. phosphine, arsine). Even a larger problem will be disposal of the billions of dead solar cell panels. Unknown is the ecological effect of square miles of earth's surface under the shadow of the solar farms.
Energy out of coal is universally considered to be unclean. The same holds for the energy from the oil sources.
Energy from the nuclear source is increasingly considered to be unclean (as in Germany) due to its radiation hazard.
Many initially considered the energy from the renewable sources (sunlight, wind, ocean, etc.) to be clean and perfect, but there is increasing concern now.
Consider solar cells, which can be polluting during manufacture, during its lifetime, and also after its lifetime.Solar Cell Making: Growing semiconductor crystals, fabricating semiconductor junctions involves use of very toxic gases and chemicals. Solar Cell Operation: Vast areas of land has to be under the solar cell plants; nobody knows what the ecological consequences will be. Solar Cell Waste: We do not know how the huge solar panel waste can be managed - recycled!
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