Which statement describes a potential environmental issue associated with renewable energy?

Which statement describes a potential environmental issue associated with renewable energy?

• A. No environmental concerns
• B. They release more CO2 than fossil fuels
• C. Habitat or land-use impacts and intermittency
• D. They always provide constant energy

Answer: (C)

Renewable energy projects can affect ecosystems and require significant land use, and their electricity supply is not constant because wind, sun, and water flows vary. Habitat and land-use impacts happen as large solar arrays, wind farms, or hydro facilities take up space, alter habitats, fragment landscapes, or change local species patterns. Intermittency means these sources don’t always generate power when demand is highest, so grids need storage or backup, which brings additional environmental considerations and planning complexity. This combination of habitat/land-use concerns and variability best captures the real environmental trade-offs of renewable energy. The notion that renewables have no environmental concerns isn’t accurate, and renewables do not release more CO2 than fossil fuels over their life cycle; they also don’t provide constant energy, since their output fluctuates with weather and time of day.