“Green Illusions” aims at pointing out the downsides of renewable energy sources

Jun 28, 2012 13:51 GMT  ·  By

Published at the beginning of this month, Ozzie Zehner's book, “Green Illusions,” does exactly what its title suggests: it brings down a long-lasting myth that green industries and renewable energy sources are the way to go if we are to make this world a better place.

In 464 pages, the scholar conducts an ample study on how said technologies are not at all successful in offsetting fossil fuel use, at least in the US.

The case is made that, by investing in solar panels, wind turbines and the like, the only advantage is that, since more energy is being produced, prices are lowered to some extent.

However, as Ozzie Zehner goes on to explain, it is precisely because energy becomes cheaper that more and more of it is used each day, particularly in intensely urbanized parts of the world.

This means that, as demands increase, new money must go in augmenting the existing energy sources.

The researcher claims that, “Historically, we've filled that added demand by building more coal-fired power plants, not fewer.”

Ozzie Zehner thus disagrees that renewable energy sources will ever succeed in replacing our long-lasting use of coal and nuclear power.

Inhabitat explains that his statements are mostly based on a recent study conducted by a professor at the University of Oregon. Apparently, this study goes to show that, regardless of how much money went into renewable energy sources, the US's need for fossil fuels remained virtually the same.

As the author of “Green Illusions” puts it, ““In fact, in countries such as the United States, with dismal efficiency, sprawling suburbs, a growing population, and high rates of material consumption, renewable energy technologies do the most harm as they perpetuate energy-intensive modes of living.”

From where we stand, even if Ozzie Zehner does indeed make a valid point, perhaps by learning to stop abusing whatever resources we happen to have at our disposal, human society will eventually succeed in safeguarding the natural world.

More information about this book can be found on the Green Illusions website.