"No structures are more obvious symbols of “green” electricity generation than large wind turbines—**but these enormous accumulations of steel, cement, and plastics are also embodiments of fossil fuels**. Their foundations are reinforced concrete, their towers, nacelles, and rotors are steel (altogether nearly 200 tons of it for every megawatt of installed generating capacity), and their massive blades are energy-intensive—and difficult to recycle—plastic resins (about 15 tons of them for a midsize turbine)." ([Location 2036](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B08SGC3TD3&location=2036)) --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[kinetic-energy]], [[renewable-electricity]], [[wind-energy]], [[fossil-fuels]], [[steel]], [[cement]], [[plastics]], **Source** -- [[202412030828 - B - How the World Really Works]]