--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter how many solar panels…" description: "\"It doesn't matter how many solar panels you install if you don't simultaneously shut down coal and gas burners.\" — George Monbiot" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/george-monbiot-2762_climate_it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-solar-panels_532319.png" --- # It doesn't matter how many solar panels you install if you… ![“It doesn't matter how many solar panels you install if you don't simultaneously shut down coal and gas burners.” quote by George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/george-monbiot-2762_climate_it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-solar-panels_532319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/george-monbiot-2762_climate_it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-solar-panels_532319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e72/george-monbiot-2762_climate_it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-solar-panels_532319.png) > “It doesn't matter how many solar panels you install if you don't simultaneously shut down coal and gas burners.” [George Monbiot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-monbiot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Renewable energy alone is insufficient without eliminating fossil fuel use. **In simple terms:** Solar panels need to replace coal and gas. Key Takeaway Pair clean energy with phasing out fossil fuels. Themes environment policy energy transition Mood urgent determined Type environmental activist When to use this quote - government policy - corporate strategy - home energy planning - community projects Key Concepts sustainability systems thinking climate justice Questions to Reflect On - How can we accelerate fossil fuel phase‑out? - What incentives drive combined action? A Different Perspective Transition challenges include economic and political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Solar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar/) [Solar panels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-panels/) ## Related quotes > [Compared to coal, which generates almost half the electricity in the United States, natural gas is indeed a cleaner, less polluting fuel. But compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goodell/compared-to-coal-which-generates-almost-half-the-electricity-in-the/) [Jeff Goodell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goodell/) > [I would love to get solar panels installed to help us work towards generating our own energy supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-bowman/i-would-love-to-get-solar-panels-installed-to-help-us-work-towards/) [Edith Bowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-bowman/) > [My house is solar powered. I tell Republicans, you can hate the subsidies - I hate the subsidies, too - but you can't hate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-massie/my-house-is-solar-powered-i-tell-republicans-you-can-hate-the/) [Thomas Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-massie/) > [I live out of my van, which gives me a first-hand appreciation for power and lighting. A few years ago, I rebuilt the interior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-honnold/i-live-out-of-my-van-which-gives-me-a-first-hand-appreciation-for/) [Alex Honnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-honnold/) > [Sunlight and wind are inherently unreliable and energy-dilute. As such, adding solar panels and wind turbines to the grid in large quantities increases the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/sunlight-and-wind-are-inherently-unreliable-and-energy-dilute-as-such/) [Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/) > [“Net Metering in Maharashtra: How It Works & Why It Matters Net metering is one of the biggest reasons rooftop solar has become financially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/net-metering-in-maharashtra-how-it-works-why-it-matters-net-metering/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's really kind of cool to have solar panels on your roof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/it-s-really-kind-of-cool-to-have-solar-panels-on-your-roof/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [My house is covered in solar panels, I'm a great believer in all this - we all should be doing this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/my-house-is-covered-in-solar-panels-i-m-a-great-believer-in-all-this/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [I've got no advice. You guys know where you are and what will work. Just know that there are people all over the place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/i-ve-got-no-advice-you-guys-know-where-you-are-and-what-will-work/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [Make your next car electric, put solar panels on your roof, and go vegan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leilani-munter/make-your-next-car-electric-put-solar-panels-on-your-roof-and-go-vegan/) Leilani Munter > [Shortly afterwards, I did a third one to repair the robotic arm of the station. 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I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [You could power the entire United States with about 150 to 200 square kilometers of solar panels, the entire United States. 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