As the debate over energy sources continues, a report highlights discrepancies in how accidents related to different energy industries are tracked. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ SpillTracker focuses on petrochemical incidents, yet incidents involving wind and solar energy often go unreported.
In January 2024, before SpillTracker’s launch, the largest battery storage facility in the U.S. caught fire in California. The incident forced over 1,000 residents to evacuate and led to health concerns and lawsuits due to chemical contamination.
A comparison of energy outputs reveals that wind and solar accounted for only 2.6% of U.S. energy consumption in 2023, whereas hydrocarbons like oil and natural gas contributed 74%. This disparity raises questions about whether the number of accidents should be proportional to their energy output.
SpillTracker documented 132 petrochemical incidents in 2024. A conservative comparison would suggest an acceptable rate of around four wind and solar incidents; however, actual reports show nearly ten times that number.
The discussion extends beyond just energy output to include land use. Wind and solar projects require significantly more space than traditional natural gas plants, with solar projects needing up to 140 times more land.
This analysis raises questions about the comprehensive tracking of incidents across all types of energy production and whether current reporting methods provide a fair representation of risks associated with renewable energies compared to traditional ones.