Why Clean Energy Matters
Transitioning the United States to a clean energy economy enhances economic growth, energy independence, and the health and well-being of the American people.
Learn more
As the United States rapidly scales up its renewable energy generating capabilities to reach the nation’s climate goals, we must consider how these systems interact with the natural environment.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plays a leading role in developing new technologies and procedures that reduce the environmental impacts of renewable energy.
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) supports responsible clean energy development by funding research that protects wildlife from not only the impacts of climate change but also the clean energy infrastructure we need to address it.
How Does Clean Energy Help the Environment?
Overall, clean energy is considered better for the environmentthan traditional fossil-fuel–based resources,generally resulting in less air and water pollution than combustible fuels, such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum oil. Power generated by renewable sources, such as wind, water, and sunlight, does not produce harmful carbon dioxide emissions that lead to climate change, which causes drought, wildfires, flooding, poverty,health risks, species loss, and more.
Even though both renewable and nonrenewable energy sources require land for infrastructure, renewable energy systems often have a smaller footprint. For example, solar panels can be installed on existing structures, and wind turbines are well suited for agricultural land without displacing crops.
Did you know?
Collisions with land-based wind turbines kill fewer birds than other factors like automobiles, electrical lines, antenna towers, pesticides, and cats.
Clean Energy and Environmental Safety
Despite these benefits, clean energy technologies can have environmental consequences before, during, and after their useful lifespans. EERE supports a wide range of projects that help reduce impacts on our ecosystem.
From projects that use machine learning to automatically detect and identifybird interactions with solar facilities to others that usecameras with artificial intelligence to help site operators know what wildlife is nearby, EERE is invested in a future where clean energy benefits outweigh the costs.
That’s why DOE:
- Takes steps to ensure that clean energy projects address potential environmental concerns before projects begin. This includes considering the land at the project site, the safety of materials used, whether the materials are obtained sustainably, and the safety of fish and other wildlife.
- Focuses on ensuring that natural habitats and wildlife are safe from any harmful consequences. This means funding research into deterrent and mitigation technologies, like those thatminimize bird and bat interactions with wind turbines and providesafe passage for fish through hydropower dams.
- Funds research to reduce environmental impacts after a project’s lifetime. This includes recycling, repurposing, and upcycling materials, such asbatteries,wind turbine blades,andsolar panels, that have reached the end of their useful lives.
Learn How EERE Works to Reduce Environmental Impacts of Clean Energy
Wildlife Protection and the Clean Energy Transition
Solar Energy, Wildlife, and the Environment
Environmental Research and Wind Energy Projects
Environmental and Hydrologic Systems Science
Reducing Barriers to Testing
Reducing Embodied Energy and Decreasing Emissions (REMADE)
Circular Economy Technologies and Systems
Vehicle Technologies Office’s Research Plan to Reduce, Recycle, and Recover Critical Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Environmental Impacts News
VIEW ALL
Biden-Harris Administration Invests Nearly $20 Million to Improve Siting of Renewable Energy and Co-Locate Solar with Cattle Grazing
Six projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act will help improve planning, siting, and permitting for large-scale renewable energy and storage. DOE also launched a prize to advance the co-location of solar energy production and cattle grazing.
September 10, 2024
Learn More
WETO Selects 6 Small Businesses for Small Business Research and Development Grants
WETO announced funding—including funds from the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—for 6 small businesses working to accelerate wind energy Research and Development
September 4, 2024
Learn More
How Wind Can Help Us Breathe Easier
Learn how wind energy can provide health and climate benefits that outweigh its costs.
August 21, 2024
Learn More
WETO and the National Science Foundation Award Funding to Accelerate Floating Offshore Wind Research
Johns Hopkins University and Portland State University received funding from the National Science Foundation and WETO on a project that will help unlock the vast potential of floating offshore wind farms in the United States.
August 14, 2024
Learn More
Making Hay (and Solar Power) While the Sun Shines
On Farmworker Appreciation Day, we celebrate the growing collaboration between American agriculture and our clean energy industries.
August 6, 2024
Learn More
Funding Notice: Nearly $50 Million Funding Opportunity for Offshore Wind National and Regional Research and Development
Nearly $50 million funding available for projects that address several major areas of need for offshore wind.
July 25, 2024
Learn More
Cutting Edge Radar System Will Collect Bird and Bat Data in Offshore Environments
DOE is collaborating on an 18-month initiative to gather extensive weather, ocean, and wildlife data near the sites of active offshore wind farms and lease areas off the coast of the Northeast United States.
July 18, 2024
Learn More
ThermalTracker-3D Monitors Winged Wildlife to Help New Wind Farms Take Flight
This innovative system collects behavioral data for birds and bats in the vicinity of wind turbines to help the wind industry meet monitoring requirements for development of proposed wind farm sites.
June 6, 2024
Learn More
DOE Invests $9.5 Million to Study the Social Dynamics of Large-Scale Solar Siting and Permitting
Projects will generate actionable insights that improve outcomes for communities hosting large-scale solar installations, particularly those that are underserved, and the solar industry.
June 4, 2024
Learn More
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Winners of 2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition
The University of New Hampshire won the 5th annual Marine Energy Collegiate Competition.
May 23, 2024
Learn More
Subscribe to The Weekly Jolt
The Weekly Jolt is a digest of the top clean energy news, tips, events, and information from DOE and EERE.
Follow our Funding Listserv
Sign-up to receive the latest information about EERE’s clean energy funding, prize, and competition opportunities.