Alexander Dunlap - How do we recognize the political occupation facilitating extractivism?

We are delighted to welcome Alexander Dunlap back to the EXALT podcast for a conversation about his latest work. Xander has been looking at rare earth element mining, lithium mining, and solar panel lifecycles in the United States. Right now, he is writing up the research on the disposal and decommissioning of solar panels, which is where our conversation kicks off. Xander found that even in highly regulated states it is more economically efficient to just landfill them rather than recycle them (even if they would be technically recyclable). Low carbon technologies are being used in a lot of insidious ways in industrial and capitalist societies. We need to really reflect on what renewability really means and we need to think hard as researchers before we blindly engage with public relations words (i.e. sustainability, renewability). 

Check out the Justice in Renewable Energy Supply Chains projects investigating the life cycle of solar panels on the ground, where you can find more information, articles and policy briefs:

https://www.bu.edu/igs/research/projects/justice-in-renewable-energy-supply-chains/ 

If you would like to check out Xander’s other episodes, here are the direct links:

• How is this system killing us and what can we do? https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/xander-dunlap-how-is-this-system-killing-us-and-what-can-we-do/id1499621252?i=1000650809357 

• Until You Become Ungovernable, Why Would Anyone Listen to You? https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/alexander-dunlap-until-you-become-ungovernable-why/id1499621252?i=1000587449856 

• Is "green energy" really that green (and is it better called "fossil fuel plus")? https://podcasts.apple.com/fi/podcast/alexander-dunlap-is-green-energy-really-that-green/id1499621252?i=1000506999251

Check out Xander’s upcoming talk (26 Aug. 2025, 14:00-16:00) at University of Copenhagen https://cape.ku.dk/eng/calendar/2025/exploring-the-life-of-solar-panels/

Want to learn more about Xander’s work? Check out his research profiles here: 

https://www.bu.edu/igs/profile/alexander-dunlap/

https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/alexander-dunlap

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexander-Dunlap?ev=hdr_xprf