Conflict minerals: Were Your Solar Panels Made With Conflict Minerals?

Nov 11, 2014 | Todd Woody, TakePart
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So you just put solar panels on your roof and can pat yourself on the back for doing the clean, green thing, right?

Not quite.

While solar panels generate carbon-free electricity, they carry environmental footprints of their own. Manufacturing those products consumes energy and water and emits greenhouse gases. And panels can contain toxic materials or rare-earth elements mined in war-torn countries—so-called conflict minerals.