US town rejects solar farm, page-47

"Do they have to use minerals & energy to make these Solar Panels and everything else involved with them?"

The end users of solar panels and farms generally don't see or deal with the chemicals and consequences of the silicon purifying and production processes, but some of it is nas-ty! A significant challenge for the future.

Of course, the polluting processes are mainly hidden away in the depths of China and many don't care what chemicals and particulates flows down their rivers.

In some cases it is already too late, but the industry needs to wake up to the future mess they are causing elsewhere for their "clean energy".