Finding　the　optimal　Renewable　Energy　Source　(RES)　is　extremely　important　in　order　to　achieve　sustainable　development.　However,　there　still　are　three　critical　issues　that　have　not　been　satisfactorily　addressed.　First,　the　criteria　used　to　evaluate　RESs　have　not　been　well　organized.　Second,　uncertainty　related　to　the　different　meanings　of　linguistic　terms　is　not　taken　into　account　in　RES　evaluation.　Third,　the　bounded　rationality　of　decision　makers　is　largely　ignored　in　the　state　of　the　art　of　RES　evaluation.　To　overcome　the　above　problems　and　provide　a　more　systematic　and　clearer　framework　for　evaluating　RESs,　this　paper　introduces　different　innovations　in　relation　to　the　following:　(1)　Construct　a　new　index　system　based　on　a　comprehensive　review　of　the　following　four　aspects:　economy,　environment,　society　and　technology.　(2)　Employ　Gaussian　IT2FSs　to　model　linguistic　terms　and　define　a　new　entropy　model　to　calculate　the　criteria　weights　with　Gaussian　IT2FSs　information.　(3)　Propose　a　new　distance　model　to　measure　the　distance　between　Gaussian　IT2FSs,　which　can　simultaneously　avoid　information　loss　and　improve　computational　efficiency.　(4)　Introduce　a　comprehensive　method　combining　Gaussian　IT2FSs　and　prospect　theory　to　describe　the　bounded　rationality　of　decision　makers.　The　proposed　method　is　demonstrated　by　an　illustrative　case　of　RES　evaluation　in　Anhui,　China,　and　its　feasibility　together　with　a　parameter　analysis　and　discussion　are　conducted　to　show　the　influence　of　parameters　on　the　results　and　the　advantages　of　the　proposed　method.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd