{"id":272759,"date":"2023-08-11T14:19:44","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T12:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=272759"},"modified":"2023-08-11T14:19:47","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T12:19:47","slug":"blade-runners-wind-industry-dumping-millions-of-tonnes-of-blades-every-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=272759","title":{"rendered":"Blade Runners: Wind Industry Dumping Millions of Tonnes of Blades Every\u00a0Year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"542\" data-attachment-id=\"272768\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=272768\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?fit=2200%2C1649&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2200,1649\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-427\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?fit=723%2C542&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=723%2C542&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-272768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=1536%2C1151&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=2048%2C1535&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=1200%2C899&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?w=2169&amp;ssl=1 2169w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From <a href=\"http:\/\/stopthesethings.com\/\">STOP THESE THINGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"272760\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=272760\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-425.png?fit=648%2C365&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"648,365\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-425\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-425.png?fit=648%2C365&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-425.png?resize=723%2C407&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-272760\" style=\"width:760px;height:428px\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-425.png?w=648&amp;ssl=1 648w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-425.png?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hundreds of thousands of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stopthesethings.com\/2022\/09\/03\/toxic-blade-time-bomb-new-study-exposes-scale-of-wind-industrys-poisonous-plastics-legacy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">toxic wind turbine blades<\/a>\u00a0are headed for landfills near you, and thousands more are being dumped illegally, right next door. Across the USA, wind power outfits are being repeatedly busted for dumping their blades and simply cutting and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In August 2021,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stopthesethings.com\/2021\/08\/03\/unwanted-waste-company-busted-for-illegally-dumping-hundreds-of-giant-wind-turbine-blades\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">we reported on one blade \u2018recycling\u2019 company<\/a>\u00a0busted for illegally storing hundreds of wind turbine blades at three sites in Iowa.\u00a0Global Fiberglass Solutions Inc was busted for piling up over 1,300 blades at three makeshift dumps \u2013 despite claiming it would \u2018recycle\u2019 them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Oregon, one so-called wind turbine blade \u2018recycler\u2019 was whacked with a $57,282 fine for dumping hundreds of dilapidated blades right next to a natural spring and wetland. It made the bogus claim that the 2,741 cubic yard cocktail of fibreglass and toxic plastics amounted to \u201cclean fill\u201d.\u00a0The same model has been employed by wind\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stopthesethings.com\/2022\/01\/27\/blade-runners-wind-industry-illegally-dumping-discarded-turbine-blades-across-america\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">power outfits in New York State.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whatever happens to them, the wind industry has a monumental problem, that can\u2019t be solved \u2013 just buried. Leaving a burden for its hapless victims (aka \u2018us\u2019) to suffer for centuries to come. As to which, Ronald Stein poses this rhetorical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Will Wind Turbines Be Generating More Waste Than Electricity?<br><\/strong>The Heartland Institute<br>Ronald Stein<br>18 July 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"542\" data-attachment-id=\"272770\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=272770\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?fit=1979%2C1484&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1979,1484\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"0TexasYard_5_edit_1\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?fit=723%2C542&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=723%2C542&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-272770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?w=1979&amp;ssl=1 1979w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/0TexasYard_5_edit_1.jpg?w=1446&amp;ssl=1 1446w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wind turbines, once touted by the few wealthy and less populated countries as a clean solution for electricity, are now becoming an eyesore, a hazard, and a significant environmental threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After decades of operating around the world for the few wealthy and less populated countries, wind turbines continue to have a live expectancy of about 20 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[Note to Ronald: wind turbines do not last 20 years, their economic lifespan is less than 15 years, with their major components \u2013 generators, bearings and blades \u2013 often being replaced several times during that period. In the US, one operator is replacing all of its turbines after less than 12 years:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stopthesethings.com\/2023\/04\/23\/costly-pathetic-performance-thousands-of-wind-turbines-being-replaced-after-12-years\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Costly &amp; Pathetic \u2018Performance\u2019: Thousands of Wind Turbines Being Replaced After 12 Years<\/a>]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To date there has yet to be discovered a financially viable means of recycling those wind turbines.\u00a0 As a result, today\u2019s old wind turbines are being dumped into toxic waste dumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because wind turbine blades are very difficult to recycle, the waste stream created by the retired blades is a mounting problem. Globally by 2050 projections are that there will be\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/03\/01\/by-2050-used-wind-turbine-blades-will-exceed-43-million-tons-of-waste-every-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">43 million tons of blade waste produced EVERY YEAR<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the equivalent of 215,000 locomotives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the turn of the century in 2100,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/desa\/world-population-projected-reach-98-billion-2050-and-112-billion-2100\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the world population is projected to be more than 11 billion from its current 8 billion<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The world\u2019s population in 2100 is projected to be dominated by India, Nigeria, China, U.S., Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Tanzania.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Noticeable by their absence from the population list are countries that are wealthier but less populated like Germany, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Russia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As wind farms age, the turbines begin to break down and require maintenance. However, due to the high costs associated with removing them, many companies are choosing to leave them in place. This poses several problems, including the potential for oil leaks from the turbines, and the overall negative impact on the landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first generation of wind turbines are starting to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S092134492100046X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reach the end of their service lives<\/a>, while others are replaced early to make way for newer technology \u2013 including<a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/eere\/articles\/wind-turbines-bigger-better\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u00a0longer turbine blades<\/a>\u00a0that can sweep more wind and generate more intermittent electricity \u2013 the question of what to do with their huge blades becomes more pressing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These abandoned wind turbines pose significant environmental and safety risks, as they can leak toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials into the surrounding environment and can even collapse or catch fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The life cycle for renewables runs from design, procurement and construction through operations and maintenance, and repair, as well as the life ending decommissioning and disposal or recycling and restoration of the landscaping back to its original pristine condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s time for those few wealthy governments to \u201cclean up\u201d their previous subsidized programs for intermittent electricity and act to subsidize the development of methods to properly decommission wind turbines before they become a larger environmental crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The governments that subsidized the designing and construction have the responsibility to seek decommissioning, restoration, and recycling standards down to the last dandelion, just like we have for decommissioned mines, oil, and nuclear sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wind farms are typically located in areas with consistent wind patterns. For the vast acreage required for wind and solar, it\u2019s pathetic destruction of pristine landscapes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The American public has been speaking through the not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) individuals, and expressing their discontent with such features as unsightliness, extensive acreage requirements, noise, and environmental risks to the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For all Americans, Robert Bryce just finished updating the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/robertbryce.com\/renewable-rejection-database\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Renewable Rejection Database<\/a><strong><u>&nbsp;<\/u><\/strong>to include a spate of restrictions or rejections that have been enacted in Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The new rejection totals: Since 2015, there have been 391 rejections or restrictions of wind electricity projects and 135 rejections or restrictions of solar projects, bringing the total number of rejections of all sites targeted for the generation of occasional electricity to 526.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So far in 2023, just in America, there\u2019ve been 24 rejections of wind turbine projects and 24 rejections of solar projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consistent with the NIMBY actions in America to reject so-called renewable electricity,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/redstate.com\/mike_miller\/2023\/06\/25\/sweden-shocks-europe-abandons-unstable-green-energy-agenda-returns-to-nuclear-power-n766866\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweden shocked Europe by abandoning \u2018Unstable\u2019 Green Electricity Agenda, and returning to Nuclear Power<\/a>. Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson cited the need for a more \u201cstable electrical supply system,\u201d pointing out the inherent instability in wind and solar electricity generating sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The energy crisis in Europe is collapsing as countries like the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Greece are all beginning to realize that everything that needs electricity is made with fossil fuels and they\u2019re reverting. They\u2019re also recognizing that all the components of wind turbines and solar panels are made from the oil derivatives manufactured from crude oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, Sweden\u2019s new government has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.electrive.com\/2022\/11\/08\/sweden-drops-ev-subsidies-with-immediate-effect\/#:~:text=Sweden's%20new%20government%20has%20abolished,the%20so%2Dcalled%20climate%20bonus.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">abolished state subsidies for electric cars and plug-in hybrids<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another reality is that\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cell.com\/one-earth\/fulltext\/S2590-3322(19)30219-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2590332219302192%3Fshowall%3Dtrue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">all the mineral products and metals<\/a>\u00a0 needed to make wind turbines, solar panels, and EV batteries are mined and processed in places like Baotou, Inner Mongolia, Bolivia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly under Chinese control. Decommissioning and restoration of those mining landscapes back to their original pristine condition is not in the cards in developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since Germany shut down its last three remaining nuclear power plants, the country has had to turn to its neighbors to keep the lights on. Germany has gone from being an exporter of electricity to an importer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For profitability and sustainability, private industry business decisions are based on return-on-investments (ROI) which directly relates to affordable, reliable, continuous, and uninterruptable electricity to support their investments. Thus, Germany should look at Sweden who has just abandoned the idealistic goal of occasional electricity from wind and solar and committed to nuclear for electricity that is not only continuous and uninterruptible but emission free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is crucial that we address this issue and find sustainable solutions for decommissioning and recycling of these wind turbines. As a society, we must prioritize responsible and safe disposal of renewable electricity infrastructure to truly achieve a sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shockingly, the recycling of worn-out turbine blades, solar panels, and EV batteries, in the few wealthy and less populated countries that are subsidizing intermittent electricity is not yet in the cards!<br><a href=\"https:\/\/heartland.org\/opinion\/will-wind-turbines-be-generating-more-waste-than-electricity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em><strong>The Heartland Institute<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"723\" height=\"543\" data-attachment-id=\"272767\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?attachment_id=272767\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?fit=962%2C722&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"962,722\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"image-426\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?fit=723%2C543&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=723%2C543&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-272767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?w=962&amp;ssl=1 962w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-426.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 723px) 100vw, 723px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/knX7NkJILhs?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Until recently, wind turbine blades were nearly impossible to recycle. Now, one company is shredding the blades so they can be used as fuel in cement making. But is this the best way to deal with a growing waste problem?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"723\" height=\"407\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8fSv7lNo1eM?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">More than 90% of used solar panels get thrown in the trash, and the world&#8217;s wind industry is estimated to produce 43 million tons of blade waste each year. But some companies have found recycling solutions. Ben Tracy reports.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hundreds of thousands of\u00a0toxic wind turbine blades\u00a0are headed for landfills near you, and thousands more are being dumped illegally, right next door. Across the USA, wind power outfits are being repeatedly busted for dumping their blades and simply cutting and running.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":272768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691821762,691821281,691818080,691821763],"class_list":{"0":"post-272759","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-blade-runners","9":"tag-blade-waste","10":"tag-toxic","11":"tag-wind-turbine-blades","13":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/image-427.png?fit=2200%2C1649&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-18Xl","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":218233,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=218233","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":0},"title":"New Sustainability Standard: Wind Industry Illegally Dumping Thousands of Turbine Blades","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/10\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"As hundreds of thousands of\u00a0toxic wind turbine blades\u00a0head for landfills near you, thousands more are being dumped illegally.","rel":"","context":"With 1 comment","block_context":{"text":"With 1 comment","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=218233#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/0Screenshot-2022-09-10-135230.png?fit=986%2C557&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/0Screenshot-2022-09-10-135230.png?fit=986%2C557&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/0Screenshot-2022-09-10-135230.png?fit=986%2C557&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/0Screenshot-2022-09-10-135230.png?fit=986%2C557&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":210825,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=210825","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":1},"title":"Planet Sized Problem: Millions More Wind Turbine Blades Destined for Landfills Near You","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"07\/29\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Mike Moore\u2019s\u00a0Planet of the Humans\u00a0exposed the mountains of toxic filth generated by so-called \u2018green\u2019 energy, much to the horror of renewable energy rent-seekers and climate cult zealots, alike. Solar panels are a veritable toxic cocktail of gallium arsenide, tellurium, silver, crystalline silicon, lead, cadmium, and heavy earth material. Then there\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/0goodell-turbines-1100x825-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/0goodell-turbines-1100x825-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/0goodell-turbines-1100x825-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/0goodell-turbines-1100x825-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/0goodell-turbines-1100x825-1.jpg?fit=1100%2C825&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":256113,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=256113","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":2},"title":"Right, CBS, Wind and Solar Facilities Do Produce a Lot of Hard to Manage Waste","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"05\/05\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As these problems have become more evident, as CBS discussed, companies are seeking different ways to dispose of turbine blades. With proper environmental protocols in place, used blades can be shredded and burned in kilns or power plants. This, however, releases air toxins and carbon dioxide.","rel":"","context":"In \"balsa wood\"","block_context":{"text":"balsa wood","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=balsa-wood"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03400x-1-1024x767-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03400x-1-1024x767-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03400x-1-1024x767-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/03400x-1-1024x767-1.jpg?fit=1024%2C767&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":429378,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=429378","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":3},"title":"Waste from \u201cclean energy\u201d piles up across the U.S.","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/03\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"In February, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton\u00a0announced\u00a0his office was suing Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc. and all affiliated entities for allegedly \u201cdumping thousands of wind turbine blades and related materials at two disposal sites in Sweetwater, Texas,\u201d KTAB\/KRBC reported. The suit, filed on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"renewable \u201cgreen\u201d energy\"","block_context":{"text":"renewable \u201cgreen\u201d energy","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=renewable-green-energy"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Wind-Turbine-Graveyards1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Wind-Turbine-Graveyards1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Wind-Turbine-Graveyards1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0-Wind-Turbine-Graveyards1.jpg?fit=784%2C1168&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":281245,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=281245","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":4},"title":"Dump &#038; Run: Thousands of Toxic Wind Turbine Blades Pile Up Across\u00a0America","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"09\/30\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"From STOP THESE THINGS Across the USA, wind power outfits are being repeatedly busted for dumping their blades and simply cutting and running. Then there are scammers like Global Fiberglass Solutions Inc which makes claims about recycling dumped blades, notwithstanding there is no market for ground up toxic waste, funnily\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Bisphenol A\"","block_context":{"text":"Bisphenol A","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=bisphenol-a"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-892.png?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-892.png?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-892.png?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-892.png?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-892.png?fit=1200%2C899&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":234580,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=234580","url_meta":{"origin":272759,"position":5},"title":"\u2018Clean\u2019 Energy Scourge: Wind Turbine Blades Shedding Tonnes of Toxic Microplastics","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/17\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Sure, the millions of wind turbine blades headed for landfill will leave a toxic legacy for centuries to come, but these things create an even more immediate threat. Their 40-90m blades naturally erode during operation, spreading tonnes of microplastics far and wide. The epoxy compounds they shed contain toxins that\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-508.png?fit=1036%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-508.png?fit=1036%2C488&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-508.png?fit=1036%2C488&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-508.png?fit=1036%2C488&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=272759"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":272774,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272759\/revisions\/272774"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/272768"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=272759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=272759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=272759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}