A Reddit post is sparking debate after claiming that wind farms are destroying forests. Experts say the reality is much different -- and that renewables are providing major health, environmental, and economic benefits.
The post in the r/conspiracy subreddit read: "So, we cut down trees to make way for windmills, we turn the trees into wood pellets, we sell the wood pellets as 'biofuel' to burn in power stations and tell them we're saving the planet."
The message prompted a wave of responses calling out the flawed reasoning.
While it's true that wind projects in forested areas require clearing for access roads and pads, research from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows only a small fraction of land is disturbed permanently -- less than an acre per megawatt. The majority remains in use for farming, grazing, or recreation.
Developers also work within federal and state guidelines designed to protect wildlife and minimize habitat loss. In addition, studies have measured the environmental effects of wind farm development, offering insights to help with strategic planning.
By adding turbines to already disturbed areas like industrial and agricultural lands or open fields, we can minimize the negative impacts.
By comparison, dirty energy sources like oil and gas disrupt far more land and water -- and their pollution costs billions of dollars in healthcare each year. From 2019 to 2022 alone, the expansion of U.S. wind and solar saved $249 billion in climate and health damages.
For everyday people, renewables mean cleaner air, fewer asthma attacks, and lower rates of heart disease, along with lower energy costs and thousands of new jobs in rural communities. They also generate millions in taxes that fund schools, infrastructure, and essential services.
While some critics may paint wind projects as destructive, the evidence shows they're one of the most effective tools communities have to improve public health, grow local economies, and reduce climate risks.
Commenters were quick to push back on the misleading framing.
Others pointed out the irony of criticizing renewables while ignoring the extensive land use and pollution caused by dirty energy sources: "Thank god oil production and pipelines only kill more trees and poisons aquifers also...whew!"
Another added: "Based on the numbers I could find the total amount of space used for all the turbines in world is just a bit over double for that of a single coal mine in Wyoming."