Our nation, the United States of America, has provided billions in grants and loans for wind and solar energy research. Solar and wind power have many advantages, but they also have many disadvantages. With some pros and cons being minor and others major, this topic has sparked a debate about whether solar and wind power are a beneficial solution to our rapid use of resources on earth. Our planet is gradually being deprived of its resources, but also at an alarming rate. However, solar and wind energy could be the future of our world, but is solar energy good or bad for our planet? Those who oppose solar and wind power have seen terrible things such as accidents caused by wind turbines. Tiffany Hsu highlights the faults of the wind turbines: “The technicians fell several hundred feet; others were crushed by wayward parts or trapped in twisting machines” (Hsu). Another reason why solar and/or wind power are bad is that solar panels create waste during their production. Jason, author of an article on solar energy, says: "Although solar energy is a much cleaner energy source than coal or natural gas, many panel manufacturers nevertheless face a hazardous waste problem” (Dearen). Solar panels generate millions of pounds of waste and are not treated as they should end up in water, which can be very contaminated, as well as in facilities in states like our own state of Minnesota. A solar energy company in Fremont, California, produced 6.2 million pounds of waste, which was transported by particularly heavy trucks. “They add 5 percent to the carbon footprint of a particular product,” said Mulvaney, a professor of environmental studies at San Jose State University. . Solar... middle of paper... also underway to ensure this clean energy source is as safe as possible (Greg Gordon). So, solar energy should be the way to power our future world because wind and sun are free sources provided by nature and do not harm our resources on earth. Works Cited Fox, Douglas. “New energy: climate change and sustainability shape a new era.” SIRS researcher. OCLC, November 8, 2010. Web. March 20, 2014. Gordon, Greg. “Patent filing claims “breakthrough” in solar energy” SIRS researcher. OCLC, May 9, 2013. Web. March 20, 2014. Hsu, Tiffany. “The Dark Side of Solar and Wind Power.” SIRS researcher. OCLC, August 3, 2011. Web. March 20, 2014.Jason, Dearen “Solar industry grapples with hazardous waste.” SIRS researcher. OCLC, February 10, 2013. Web. March 20, 2014. Leahy, Stephen. “For a planet in trouble, the cure already exists.” SIRS researcher. OCLC, June 1, 2012. Web. March 31. 2014.