A Louisiana legislative hearing on solar energy featured several misleading claims, including exaggerations about the impact of federal subsidies and the costs of renewable energy.
Louisiana's Agriculture Commissioner inaccurately claimed that federal subsidies heavily favor renewables over fossil fuels in the state.
Claims that solar and wind industries would collapse without subsidies were refuted by economists, who noted solar power is already the cheapest form of energy.
Assertions that solar farms threaten Louisiana's agriculture lacked evidence, with experts emphasizing solar's minimal land use.
Why this matters:
Misinformation about renewable energy can hinder Louisiana's progress toward a sustainable energy future, impacting policy decisions and public opinion.
Jeremy Kitson's group is one of dozens in the United States and abroad that oppose utility-scale wind and solar projects. Researchers say that in many groups, misinformation is raising doubts about renewable energy and slowing or derailing projects.
