New report provides a breakdown of state renewable energy siting policies in the U.S. – Clean Air Task Force

The new report details state renewable energy siting policies and permitting authorities across the United States, including all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This report was produced by researchers from the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the Consensus Building Institute (CBI). serves as an essential resource for policymakers, project developers, and community members navigating the complex landscape related to renewable energy project permitting and siting throughout the United States

“We have an unprecedented opportunity to bring the economic, health and climate benefits of clean energy to people across the country,” he said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. “The way renewable energy is planned and approved varies greatly across the United States. This new report is an invaluable resource for lawmakers at the federal, state and local levels who want to understand this complex landscape as they work to best meet the energy needs of their constituents.”

The report version also includes an interactive map that allows users to easily learn about each state’s government and policy features. Hosted by the DOE, the map provides detailed information on each state’s location and permitting processes, and also provides direct links to profiles in the report.

The research team’s task was to examine and classify a political landscape in which each country has an essentially individual approach. “Each state and local jurisdiction has a unique combination of siting and permitting requirements for solar and wind energy,” he said Shawn Enterline, senior associate at RAP. “This assessment documents the state-level side of that equation.”

This report identifies which government entity or entities in each state or territory has jurisdictional authority to make siting and permitting decisions for large wind and solar projects. The report also covers established timelines for siting and permitting processes, requirements for public involvement in these processes, and the availability of permitting guidelines and model ordinances designed to support local jurisdictions.

“This report explains the complex processes occurring in states across the country related to obtaining permits for large-scale wind and solar projects,” he said Nelson Falkenburg, Clean Energy Localization Associate at CATF. “By mapping the regulatory landscape in each state and Puerto Rico, this resource provides decision-makers with critical information to effectively locate and permit processes that support the development of renewable energy in their communities.”

“Creating an inventory of state siting and permitting policies will enable studies that have been difficult to conduct in the past,” he said. Tom Kirchstetter, director of energy and environmental impact analysis at Berkeley Lab. “For example, understanding whether permitting occurs locally, at the state level, or at both levels will enable valuable research on which policies influence site outcomes.”

The report acknowledges that states’ approaches to permitting and siting can vary significantly, making them difficult to categorize and generalize. The most important conclusions from the inventory include:

The level of authority with primary authority often depends on the size of the project. In 27 states, the primary siting and permitting authority depends on the size of the project. Larger projects are more often initiated by authorities at the state level.
The deadlines for issuing permits vary greatly. 31 states have specified time frames for the permitting process, ranging from as little as 30 days to a year.

Most states have public involvement requirements. 34 states require public meetings or hearings as part of the permitting process.
Published guidelines are available in many states. 29 states have published guidelines for siting and permitting solar installations, 33 for wind energy, and 25 for both.
Model ordinances are available in many states. 27 states offer model ordinances for solar siting, 18 for wind energy, and 15 for both.
Local authorities usually control localization standards. 37 states give local governments jurisdiction to set siting standards.

The full report includes state-by-state profiles for policymakers, developers and communities to learn more about permitting and siting in their states and across the United States. Although most states delegate significant authority to local governments, no two states are the same and there is ultimately no one-size-fits-all approach to siting and permitting large-scale renewable energy projects.

On June 20 at 1 p.m. EST, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab will host a webinar to discuss the report’s findings in detail. Read the full report here and access the interactive map here.

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Natalie Volk, Communications Manager, (email protected)+1 703-785-9580

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The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting against the worst impacts of climate change by catalysing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With over 25 years of internationally recognized climate policy expertise and a strong commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.