Fact Check: No, Renewable Energy Hasn’t Failed in the U.S. — And EVs Aren’t Waiting on ‘Better Tech’

A viral claim insists that renewable energy “never made it” in America. It blames Donald Trump’s climate stance for the collapse of clean energy and calls solar and wind “costly, inefficient, unreliable and deadly.” The claim even dismisses electric vehicles (EVs), saying they must “await better technology.” Such statements often circulate online, shaping perceptions about clean energy and climate solutions. It’s worth taking a closer look at what the facts show.

Claim Post:

Claim 1: “Renewable energy never made it in America.”

Fact: False. Renewables are already a significant and growing part of U.S. energy.

This claim is entirely detached from reality. Far from “never making it,” renewable energy has seen historic growth in the U.S. energy market over the past decade. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), renewables accounted for over 21% of electricity generation in the U.S. by 2023 — surpassing coal for the first time.

Wind and solar have led this surge. Wind alone contributes nearly 10.2% of electricity generation nationwide, with solar catching up fast. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) confirms that the U.S. is among the top countries in installed renewable capacity.

And this growth isn’t slowing down. The Inflation Reduction Act 2022 and various state-level policies have further turbocharged clean energy investments. In short, Renewable energy isn’t a failed experiment in the U.S. — it’s a key player in the power grid and here to stay.

Claim 2: “Under Donald Trump its days were numbered after he ended US involvement in climate derangement.”

Fact: Misleading. While the Trump administration rolled back environmental regulations and exited the Paris Agreement, renewables kept growing — driven by market forces and state policies.

It’s true that former President Donald Trump formally withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and weakened several climate and environmental policies. He also cut funding for renewable research and promoted coal and fossil fuels.

However, despite these policy setbacks, the renewable energy sector in the U.S. continued to grow during Trump’s presidency. Market dynamics—including falling costs, increasing investor interest, and strong state-level support—helped shield renewables from a federal pullback.

For instance, California, Texas, and New York expanded their clean energy portfolios during this time. Corporations also drove demand by committing to net-zero targets and investing in large-scale renewable projects.

So, while federal climate leadership suffered, the evidence does not support the notion that clean energy was on the verge of collapse.

Claim 3: “Turbines & solar panels are hugely costly, inefficient, unreliable, labour intensive & deadly for wildlife & the environment.”

Fact: False. Costs have plummeted, efficiency and reliability have improved, and environmental impacts are significantly lower than those of fossil fuels.

Let’s take each point one by one:

• Cost: Solar and wind are now among the cheapest sources of electricity globally. According to Lazard’s Levelized Cost of Energy report, utility-scale solar and wind are more affordable than new coal or gas plants in many regions — even without subsidies.
  
• Efficiency: While the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow, today’s grids manage variability using forecasting tools, battery storage, and multiple energy sources. Countries like Denmark and states like Texas have integrated large amounts of renewables without compromising reliability.
  
• Labour Intensity: Renewable energy jobs are a net positive. A National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report shows that clean energy sectors create more jobs per megawatt-hour than fossil fuels, from manufacturing to installation and maintenance.
  
• Environmental Harm: Every form of energy has some impact, but wind and solar’s footprint is relatively low.
  
  • Wind turbines can affect bird and bat populations, but careful siting and technological solutions (like ultrasonic deterrents) have reduced harm.
  • Solar farms require land, but studies show they use less space per megawatt-hour than coal mines or oil fields.
  • Crucially, renewables don’t emit harmful pollutants or greenhouse gases once operational.

By contrast, fossil fuels are linked to air pollution, habitat loss, toxic spills, and health impacts on millions — making the environmental argument against renewables fall flat.

Claim 4: “EVs will have to await better technology.”

Fact: Misleading. EVs are already efficient, cost-effective, and cleaner than gasoline vehicles — though battery and charging tech is still evolving.

Electric vehicles are not a futuristic concept waiting on the sidelines — they’re already mainstream in many parts of the world. In 2023 alone, global EV sales hit over 14 million units, with the U.S. seeing record-breaking adoption thanks to new models, tax credits, and charging infrastructure expansion.

Let’s look at the science:

• According to the U.S. Department of Energy, EVs convert over 77% of the electrical energy from the grid to power at the wheels, compared to about 12–30% for gasoline vehicles.
• An MIT study found that EVs have lower lifecycle emissions than gas cars, even when powered by grids that still include fossil fuels.
• Operating costs are also lower — EV drivers spend less on fuel, maintenance, and repairs.

Yes, challenges remain. Battery recycling, raw material sourcing, and fast-charging access are still being improved. However, none of these challenges invalidate the technology already on the road. So, while the technology is evolving, it’s not “not ready”—it’s already proving itself daily.

The claim that renewable energy failed in America or that wind and solar are unreliable is simply not supported by data. Clean energy is booming across the U.S., even in politically conservative states like Texas.

Solar panels and wind turbines have become more affordable, efficient, and cleaner than many traditional energy sources. Electric vehicles are not “waiting” for some future breakthrough—they’re already on the highways, saving drivers money and cutting pollution.

Misinformation like this often spreads through emotionally charged language rather than facts. But when we examine the numbers and science, the picture is clear: the clean energy transition isn’t a pipe dream—it’s already underway.

References:

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php

https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2024/Jul/Renewable_energy_highlights_FINAL_July_2024.pdf

https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2024/Mar/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Highlights_2024.pdf

https://theconversation.com/trump-has-withdrawn-the-us-from-the-paris-agreement-heres-why-thats-not-such-a-bad-thing-248109#:~:text=We%20believe%20in%20the%20free%20flow%20of%20information&text=On%20his%20first%20day%20back,job%20without%20Trump’s%20corrosive%20influence.

https://www.energy.ca.gov/sb100#:~:text=2021%20SB%20100%20Joint%20Agency%20Report%20To,environmental%2C%20social%20and%20economic%20cost%20and%20benefits

Texas Solar Power Expands with Lightsource bp’s 288MW Portfolio

https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Clean-Energy-Standard#:~:text=New%20York’s%20renewable%20energy%20transition%20has%20brought,is%20generated%20to%20where%20it%20is%20needed

https://decarbonization.visualcapitalist.com/the-cheapest-sources-of-electricity-in-the-us/#:~:text=According%20to%20Lazard’s%202023%20analysis%20of%20unsubsidized,than%20combined%20cycle%20natural%20gas%20power%20plants.&text=As%20seen%20below%2C%20the%20combination%20of%20these,since%202009%2C%20with%20the%20exception%20of%202022%2D2023

https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2023/how-renewable-energy-is-transforming-the-global-electricity-supply.html#:~:text=The%20Energy%20Transition%20Is%20Only%20Beginning.%20Solar,needed%20to%20reach%20a%20sustainable%20energy%20future

https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/on-the-move-unpacking-the-challenges-and-opportunities-of-electric-vehicles#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20EVs%20convert%20over,part%202%20of%20this%20article

https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/are-electric-vehicles-definitely-better-climate-gas-powered-cars

Banner image:

Photo by Abby Anaday on Unsplash