A singular wind farm can consist of as many as 4000 wind turbines alone!

Dear Proponents of Wind Energy,

Does a society that runs on “clean” renewable energy seem like a dream of the distant future? In the United States, the rise of wind energy may be just around the corner. This year, the U.S. Department of Energy estimated that the amount of power produced by the wind industry will increase by over 350% in the next thirty-five years. This transition is only possible thanks to the adoption of President Obama’s Clean Power Plan in August. The plan, which combats global warming, will reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions by 32% by 2030. Over half of these reductions will come from the replacement of fossil fuel power plants with carbon-free wind farms.

Unfortunately, the wind turbines that will lead this energy revolution may not be as “green” as you may think. Proper functioning of the wind turbine’s engine depends upon a rare earth element (REE) known as neodymium, a special metal with permanent magnetic properties. Each medium-sized (two megawatt) wind turbine contains approximately 800 pounds of neodymium! In perspective, if all 49,000 of the existing wind turbines in the U.S. were medium-sized, they would contain nearly 40 million pounds of neodymium, roughly 200 times greater than annual U.S. neodymium consumption!

The mining and processing of neodymium is highly destructive. It and other rare earth elements are only found in low concentrations, and often in the presence of radioactive minerals. That means mining and processing them poses significant challenges. Manufacturers use dangerous chemicals such as sulfuric acid to separate miniscule specks of neodymium from mined radioactive ores. The process creates enormous amounts of waste that range from discarded rock and leftover acid to radioactive material. For example, mining just one ton of neodymium generates one ton of radioactive waste. As a result, the “green” U.S. wind industry creates more radioactive waste than the U.S. nuclear power industry in a single year.

What is happening to this dangerous waste? Unfortunately, most of it is dumped directly into the environment – just not in the U.S. This is because 86% of REEs come from China, a country whose enforcement of environmental and human health regulations is often non-existent. China’s dominance in the REE market is no accident; in the late 1990s, they artificially lowered REE prices for such an extended period that REE mining in other countries, including the United States, went bankrupt. While the U.S. temporarily reopened one of its REE mines in 2011, it went bankrupt earlier this year, and U.S. wind turbine producers remain entirely dependent upon Chinese neodymium manufacturers.

In northern China’s Baotou region, where most REE mining takes place, seven million tons of radioactive, acidic waste (including discarded rock, ores, radioactive materials, and acids) are annually dumped directly into a polluted “waste” lake that is already 100 feet high. This toxic waste has destroyed the lives of local farming communities that border the REE mining and processing facilities, because crops and livestock are unable to survive in such a polluted environment. Humans are also affected. Villagers say that their teeth are falling out and they have unusual skin and respiratory diseases.  Childhood cancer is especially high in these regions. These local impacts are not entirely surprising, given that the lake’s radiation levels are ten times higher than in unaffected areas.

The wind industry advertises itself as “green,” and compared to fossil fuel energy producers, it is. For the wind industry to be truly environmentally friendly in all respects, however, it cannot simply outsource American environmental problems to poor, vulnerable communities in China. If we do not act now, the exponential growth of the U.S. wind industry will result in an expansion of neodymium mining, and the poisoning of many more local communities.

As the largest U.S. wind turbine producer, General Electric (GE) is a key player who can redefine U.S. wind turbine manufacturing processes. The company has already identified a solution to alleviate the environmental costs of REE mining. In 2011, GE announced that REE use could be decreased by as much as 80% by simply altering wasteful manufacturing processes. Indeed, the GE Sustainability website describes the company’s commitment to minimize the environmental impacts associated with the entire life cycle of its products, from mining and manufacture to use and disposal. Despite these claims, GE has yet to substantially reduce REEs in its wind turbines, and has not identified the issue as a high priority.

By applying substantial public pressure to companies like GE, you as a consumer have the power to influence the future of the wind industry. Let GE know that consumers care about the environmental damages associated with wind turbines. Flood GE’s social media (@generalelectric on Twitter, or comment on their Facebook page here)! Spread the word to other consumers with hashtags like #REEwillcleanupwindenergy. And contact General Electrics’ communication and media executives (Shaun Wiggins and Kristine Fallon) in the Energy and Power departments. Let GE know that it must target REE reductions in wind turbines as a top priority. We want truly green wind products!

In the upcoming years, the U.S. wind industry will play an essential role in the battle against climate change. In doing so, however, it risks pouring millions of tons of toxic, radioactive waste into the environment. Tell GE today that #REEwillnotoutsourcepollution. Now is the time to reduce our REE consumption and its waste. Now is the time to clean up wind energy.