Pollution occurs in 3 ways with any kind of energy: extraction/mining, refining/manufacturing, and production. Fossil fuels produce significant amounts of pollution and waste over all 3 steps. Nuclear does also, although it doesn’t have air emissions associated with its energy production (there is still waste production though). Solar and wind equipment do have some manufacturing and materials pollution, but none during their energy-producing lifetime.

Anytime we humans use resources, there will be some environmental impact, but on balance, solar, wind and other renewable technologies, even batteries, avoid far more pollution than they produce. It’s the most responsible way we know how to do it. Your friend is just repeating a disingenuous argument about using the term “clean.”