I think the original question was more in terms with carbon footprint, which would be indeed neutral (as long as it happens to have a positive EROEI, which is n

I think the original question was more in terms with carbon footprint, which would be indeed neutral (as long as it happens to have a positive EROEI, which is not even mentioned in the article). Of course local pollution is a concern, but it will always be wherever there are high concentration of people around.