The Hidden Pollution of Green Technology: Wind, EVs, and Biofuels

Introduction

Green technologies, like wind turbines, electric vehicles, and biofuels, are often seen as solutions to pollution. But making these technologies creates its own environmental challenges, from toxic waste to energy-intensive processes. This page looks at the hidden costs of these green solutions, using data to show their impact, and explores ways to reduce pollution with practical, evidence-based ideas.

Wind Turbines and Rare-Earth Magnets

Wind turbines rely on rare-earth magnets—powerful magnets made from materials like neodymium and dysprosium—to generate electricity efficiently. In 2020, the average U.S. wind turbine had a capacity of 2.75 megawatts and used about 1.83 tonnes of these magnets. But mining and refining rare earths creates a lot of pollution. For every tonne of rare earths, about 2,000 tonnes of toxic waste are produced, including radioactive thorium that can contaminate soil and water for centuries. That means one turbine generates around 3,660 tonnes of toxic waste just for its magnets.

China, which supplies most of the world’s rare earths, often uses coal-powered energy for refining, adding to air pollution. Even rare earths mined in places like California are sent to China for processing because of lax environmental rules there. On top of that, building a wind turbine requires tons of concrete, steel, and aluminum, all of which need a lot of energy to produce, further adding to the environmental cost.

Electric Vehicles and Battery Materials

Electric vehicles, or EVs, use lithium-ion batteries to store power. These batteries are made with materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which create pollution when mined and processed. In 2023, the world produced about 200,000 tonnes of lithium, with China controlling 70% of the market. A single EV battery needs about 17.6 pounds of lithium, but refining lithium is energy-intensive and often done in countries with low environmental standards.

Cobalt mining, often done in places like the Congo, produces toxic waste that pollutes rivers and causes breathing problems for workers, including children, who often lack safety gear. In 2016, 123,000 tonnes of cobalt were produced, and as of 2025, it costs about $12.71 per pound, or $28 per kilogram. Nickel mining is just as harmful, creating toxic waste called slag that contains harmful chemicals like arsenic. For every tonne of nickel mined, about 1,960 pounds of toxic waste are produced, and only half the nickel is recovered. In 2025, nickel costs around $8.62 per pound, or $19 per kilogram, with Indonesia as the top supplier, often using methods like deep-sea waste disposal that harm oceans.

Biofuels and Inefficiency

Biofuels, like wood pellets burned for energy, are often promoted as a green solution. But they can be inefficient and harmful. In Virginia, a rule requires 15% of power plant energy to come from biofuels, like wood pellets made from trees in Southwest Virginia. These pellets are cut, processed, and transported using fossil fuels, then burned in a plant in Russell County. Studies show this process releases 1.5 times more CO2 per unit of energy than coal, when you include the energy used for harvesting, transport, and processing. This makes biofuels less green than they seem, while also taking away forests that could be used for wildlife or food production.

Potential Solutions

One possible solution to reduce pollution from wind turbines and EVs is to replace rare-earth magnets with a new type called iron-nitride magnets, which use common materials like iron and nitrogen. A company called Niron Magnetics has been working on this since 2011. As of 2025, they’ve started small-scale production and are offering samples for testing, but they’re still working on making them at a large scale due to challenges with cost and manufacturing. If successful, these magnets could cut down on toxic waste from rare-earth mining.

We can also reduce pollution by making products that last longer, are easier to repair, and can be recycled. For example, using returnable glass bottles and paper bags, like we did in the past, cuts down on trash. These practical steps use less energy and materials, helping the planet more than some green technologies that create new problems while trying to solve others.

Conclusion

Green technologies like wind turbines, electric vehicles, and biofuels have hidden environmental costs, from toxic waste to high energy use. Wind turbines produce thousands of tonnes of waste for their magnets, EV batteries pollute through mining, and biofuels can release more CO2 than coal. While solutions like iron-nitride magnets show promise, we need to focus on facts, not just ideals. Building durable, repairable products and using less wasteful methods can help reduce pollution more effectively, balancing the benefits and costs of going green.