Ever noticed that weird rainbow sheen on your photovoltaic panels that makes them look like they've been working part-time at a burger joint? That's oil film contamination, and yes, it can absolutely be removed - but there's more to this greasy situation than meets the eye. However, a comprehensive understanding necessitates examining the entire lifecycle of solar panels and related infrastructure. This lifecycle assessment reveals potential environmental impacts at various stages, allowing for a more nuanced and informed perspective. Using solar energy can have a positive, indirect effect on the environment when solar energy replaces or reduces the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the environment. Solar panels use few hazardous materials to begin with. When used, these materials come in very small quantities, and they are sealed in high-strength encapsulants that prevent chemical leaching, even when solar panels have been crushed or exposed to extreme heat or rainwater. When these panels get old, recycling them is expensive and difficult. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently led the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Harmonization Project, a study that helps to clarify inconsistent and conflicting life cycle GHG emission estimates in the published literature and provide more precise estimates of life cycle GHG emissions.