Afrasianet - A recent academic study has re-highlighted the dark side of California's solar boom, warning of rampant corruption and misconduct in renewable energy projects. 

Over the past decade, California has led the United States in producing electricity from solar energy, driven by progressive climate policies and its pursuit of reduced carbon emissions.

But a study by the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) revealed that this rapid expansion was not without price, exacerbating corruption problems in the sector, especially in licensing and enforcement processes.

The study identified key patterns of corruption associated with the development of solar projects in the state, most notably:

•    Nepotism in granting approvals.
•    Misuse of public land.
•    Falsification of data and reports.
•    Tax evasion.
•    Officials are involved in immoral sexual relations.
•    Displacement of indigenous populations.
•    Ignore the environmental impact on local communities and nature.

Benjamin Sovakol, director of the institute and lead author of the study, said: "In this study, we find that accelerating the deployment of solar energy in California, despite its environmental benefits, has created opportunities for serious abuses of power and mismanagement. "It's a stark warning that the solar sector cannot continue like this without structural reforms." 

The researchers focused on Riverside County, one of California's busiest areas of utility-scale solar projects, where production grew to 79,544 gigawatt-hours in 2024, enough to power 7.4 million homes.

The study included field interviews with residents, workers, government officials and company representatives, as well as analysis of court records and official and media reports.

According to co-author Alexander Dunlap, corruption is common at various levels, from junior contractors to senior staff, even in a state seen as a model of regulation and transparency.

Among the incidents reported in the study, a senior official was sexually involved in a lobbying group representing a solar energy company, raising concerns about conflicts of interest. Indigenous peoples have also been displaced from protected or sacred lands to establish energy projects, in blatant disregard for cultural and historical rights.

The study showed that affected communities did not benefit adequately from solar projects, as benefits – such as low electricity prices – went to wealthy consumers in cities, while rural areas suffered from environmental and social impact without adequate compensation.

The study called for radical reforms that include:

•    Mapping the risks of corruption in energy projects.
•    Enhance transparency in environmental impact assessment.
•    Strict enforcement of anti-corruption laws.
•    Establish mechanisms to track financial support and contracts.
•    Adopt community ownership models that ensure equitable distribution of benefits.
The researchers stressed that the transition to renewable energy cannot be successful without accompanying technology with good governance and high ethics.

The study was published in the journal Energy Strategy Reviews.