---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Solar and wind advocates say cheaper…"
description: "\"Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind turbines will make the future growth in renewables cheaper than past growth but there are re..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg"
---

#  Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind…

![“Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind turbines will make the future growth in renewables cheaper than past growth but there are reasons to believe the opposite will be the case.” quote by Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg)

> “Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind turbines will make the future growth in renewables cheaper than past growth but there are reasons to believe the opposite will be the case.”

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Advocates claim falling costs will keep renewable growth cheap, but market, policy, and supply constraints may reverse that trend.

**In simple terms:** Cheaper tech may not guarantee cheaper future growth.

Key Takeaway

Consider hidden costs and policy impacts.

Themes

energy economics policy technology market environment

Mood

cautious analytical

Type

critical informative

When to use this quote

- energy investment
- policy planning
- grid management
- supply chain analysis

Key Concepts

Cost curves grid integration subsidy dependence

Questions to Reflect On

- How might policy changes affect renewable pricing?
- What hidden costs could emerge?

A Different Perspective

Assumes linear cost decline without accounting for externalities.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-growth/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Solar panels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-panels/) [Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind/) [Wind turbines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind-turbines/)

## Related quotes

> [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/)

> [America is home to the best researchers, advanced manufacturers, and entrepreneurs in the world. There is no reason we cannot lead the planet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/america-is-home-to-the-best-researchers-advanced-manufacturers-and/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [Deeper investment in green energy technology will create millions of high-paying American jobs that cannot be outsourced, rebuilding our nation's manufacturing economy, starting with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/deeper-investment-in-green-energy-technology-will-create-millions-of/)

[Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/)

> [People forget: solar panels don't put themselves up. Wind turbines don't manufacture themselves. Businesses don't retrofit themselves to waste less energy and water, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/people-forget-solar-panels-don-t-put-themselves-up-wind-turbines-don/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [We seem to forget that everything that is good for the environment is a job. Solar panels don't put themselves up. Wind turbines don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/we-seem-to-forget-that-everything-that-is-good-for-the-environment-is/)

[Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/)

> [“We must rein in temperature increases and help ensure that the most vulnerable can adapt. But today’s popular climate change policies of rolling out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bjorn-lomborg/we-must-rein-in-temperature-increases-and-help-ensure-that-the-most/)

[Bjorn Lomborg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bjorn-lomborg/)

> [There is job growth in renewables, there is job growth in energy efficiency and there is job growth in developing innovative industries and technologies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-garrett/there-is-job-growth-in-renewables-there-is-job-growth-in-energy/)

[Peter Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-garrett/)

> [In many countries, wind turbines pose the single greatest threat to bats after habitat loss and white-nose syndrome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/in-many-countries-wind-turbines-pose-the-single-greatest-threat-to/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [The rapidly spinning blades of wind turbines act like an apex predator that big birds never evolved to deal with. And because big birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/the-rapidly-spinning-blades-of-wind-turbines-act-like-an-apex/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [The constant abrasion and decay of our lives makes the soil of our future growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-constant-abrasion-and-decay-of-our-lives-makes-the-soil-of-our/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Our future growth relies on competitiveness and innovation, skills and productivity... and these in turn rely on the education of our people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-gillard/our-future-growth-relies-on-competitiveness-and-innovation-skills-and/)

[Julia Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-gillard/)

> [The acquisition of True Temper broadens our lawn and garden product line with outstanding, highly respected brands, ... The purchase also expands USI Hardware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-clarke-jr/the-acquisition-of-true-temper-broadens-our-lawn-and-garden-product/)

David A. Clarke, Jr

> [I know I should not be a hindrance to SoftBank's future growth and that I need to pass on the baton to the younger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masayoshi-son/i-know-i-should-not-be-a-hindrance-to-softbank-s-future-growth-and/)

[Masayoshi Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masayoshi-son/)

> [Wright is a visionary with a great strategic mind, and he's a strong business leader with outstanding people skills, ... He's a terrific guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-welch/wright-is-a-visionary-with-a-great-strategic-mind-and-he-s-a-strong/)

[Jack Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-welch/)

> [As the leadership team, we're taking bold and decisive action to evolve our organization and culture. This includes difficult steps, but they are necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-hood/as-the-leadership-team-we-re-taking-bold-and-decisive-action-to/)

[Amy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-hood/)

## More by Michael Shellenberger

> [I remained quiet about the climate disinformation campaign because I was afraid of losing friends and funding. The few times I summoned the courage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/i-remained-quiet-about-the-climate-disinformation-campaign-because-i/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Nations are reorienting toward the national interest and away from Malthusianism and neoliberalism, which is good for nuclear and bad for renewables. The evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/nations-are-reorienting-toward-the-national-interest-and-away-from/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Environmentalism, apocalyptic environmentalism in particular, has become the dominant religion of supposedly secular people in the West.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/environmentalism-apocalyptic-environmentalism-in-particular-has/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Reporters have an obligation to report accurately and fairly on all issues they cover, especially ones as important as energy and the environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/reporters-have-an-obligation-to-report-accurately-and-fairly-on-all/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Like many environmental documentaries, 'Planet of Humans' endorses debunked Malthusian ideas that the world is running out of energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/like-many-environmental-documentaries-planet-of-humans-endorses/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [There is good evidence that the catastrophist framing of climate change is self-defeating because it alienates and polarizes many people. And exaggerating climate change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/there-is-good-evidence-that-the-catastrophist-framing-of-climate/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [It was only with the rise of capitalism and the need for workers to be freer, more mobile, and prosperous, that societies were able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/it-was-only-with-the-rise-of-capitalism-and-the-need-for-workers-to/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [If solar and wind farms are needed to protect the natural environment, why do they so often destroy it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/if-solar-and-wind-farms-are-needed-to-protect-the-natural-environment/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Chernobyl' is supposedly about the lies, arrogance, and suppression of criticism under Communism, but the mini-series portrays life in the Soviet Union in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/chernobyl-is-supposedly-about-the-lies-arrogance-and-suppression-of/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Homelessness has become a human rights crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/homelessness-has-become-a-human-rights-crisis/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [What we need to talk about is what we want America to look like: what a sustainable, economically prosperous America looks like in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/what-we-need-to-talk-about-is-what-we-want-america-to-look-like-what/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Hawks and doves have long found common ground opposing the spread of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/hawks-and-doves-have-long-found-common-ground-opposing-the-spread-of/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Climate change has completely overshadowed the conservation concerns that used to be so important to the Democratic Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/climate-change-has-completely-overshadowed-the-conservation-concerns/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [Privately, many climate and energy experts admit that the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to decarbonize energy supplies is with nuclear power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/privately-many-climate-and-energy-experts-admit-that-the-fastest/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

> [The underlying problem with solar and wind is that they are too unreliable and energy-dilute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/the-underlying-problem-with-solar-and-wind-is-that-they-are-too/)

[Michael Shellenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

[Explore all 86 Michael Shellenberger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind turbines will make the future growth in renewables cheaper than past growth but there are reasons to believe the opposite will be the case.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Shellenberger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-solar-panels-and-wind-turbines/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-solar-panels-and-wind-turbines/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/michael-shellenberger-7859_believe_solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-sol_1496705.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Solar and wind advocates say cheaper solar panels and wind turbines will make the future growth in…” — Michael Shellenberger",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Michael Shellenberger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shellenberger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Solar and wind advocates say cheaper...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-solar-panels-and-wind-turbines/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shellenberger/solar-and-wind-advocates-say-cheaper-solar-panels-and-wind-turbines/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
