Here comes the sun Are solar panels a plus or a minus for the environment? Plus -- all life on Earth ultimately depends on the sun. Plugging into the sun is plugging into nature Plus -- for areas where they can be used, they reduce the need for fossil fuels and dangerous nuclear power Plus -- as the technology improves, the benefit/cost ratio will also Plus -- by the time old panels start piling up, we'll find a solution to the waste problem I don't know -- the failure to account for all costs and the use of government subsidies has distorted our ability to accurately determine that Minus -- anything the government decides to subsidize or force us to use is ultimately wasteful Minus -- we now know there's a costly toxic waste problem with this technology Minus -- they're carcinogenic and teratogenic health hazards Other View Results Loading ...