[perlgeek]

> [0] Even the fact we consider wind/solar "renewable" is evidence of how slick the marketing campaigns are for these companies. Solar panels and wind turbines have limited life spans, require rare earth metals that have to be mined. Solar and wind energy are renewable but how we harvest that energy is decidedly NOT renewable.

"renewable" is clearly an approximation here, as there is no truly renewable energy source in the sense that it doesn't need any equipment or infrastructure that could degrade over time. Just like "rechargeable" batteries aren't infinitely rechargeable.

But there are studies that look at the whole-lifecycle impact of wind and solar and find them better than most alternatives. Certainly better than oil, coal and natural gas.