DOE is supporting 16 state-based collaboratives working across 17 states as part of the Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP™) funding and technical assistance program. Learn more>>
What is renewable energy siting?
Renewable energy siting refers to a series of decision-making processes and actions that determine the location and design of new wind, solar, or other energy generating facilities.
State and local officials work with stakeholders to consider a facility’s entire lifecycle, from permitting and approval to construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of the project.
When it comes to siting, no two projects are the same.
The siting of large-scale land-based renewable energy projects on private property brings together a combination of stakeholders from local, state, federal, and Tribal governments, renewable energy developers, landowners, and other community members to consider how factors such as the following will affect the outcomes of a given project:
- Community priorities, values, and character
- Job creation and other community benefits
- Permitting requirements
- Tax revenue
- Environmental impacts
- Resource and transmission availability
- Project economics
Renewable energy projects can create benefits for host communities and the environment, as well as developers. To realize these potential benefits, the siting process must include meaningful community engagement, thoughtful planning, careful technical analysis, and integration of stakeholders' priorities. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) conducts research, provides science-based resources, and offers technical assistance to inform stakeholders and improve confidence in the siting process.
Who reviews and approves renewable energy projects?
The entities with authority to review permits and other applications for large-scale renewable energy projects, and the processes they follow, are complex, dynamic, and vary widely by state, facility size, and technology type.
On June 13, 2024, DOE and others released a report cataloging siting policies and permitting authorities on a state-by-state basis. The report highlights how these policies and authorities vary by state, facility size, and technology type. It also identifies the level of government that has the authority to set standards (laws and ordinances) such as setbacks, tip heights, decibel levels, viewshed impacts or acreage limits for large-scale renewables siting and construction. Additionally, the report highlights public involvement requirements, and more for each state.
Click the states on the map to explore state-specific siting policies and permitting authorities.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is interested in keeping this research current and accurate. Clarifications with sources and citations may be sent to renewablesiting@ee.doe.gov.
Click the states on the map to explore state-specific siting policies and permitting authorities. For a detailed explanation of how contingencies differ between wind and solar, please see Figure 3 and Table 2 in the full report.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is interested in keeping this research current and accurate. Clarifications with sources and citations may be sent to renewablesiting@ee.doe.gov.
A key finding from this state-by-state policy analysis is that, while 97% of states maintain some state-level control of the permitting process, 37 states (73%) empower local authorities to determine the siting standards. To highlight the role and impact of zoning ordinances in renewable energy siting, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published a database of local ordinances for wind energy and solar energy projects. NREL used this database to analyze the implications of restrictive zoning practices on land availability for wind and solar deployment.
Who else is involved in the siting process?
Host community members are those who live in the area where a potential renewable energy project will be built. Community members typically have an opportunity to ask questions and voice opinions about proposed facilities through public comment periods or public meetings, hearings, and informational meetings, although the process varies significantly by jurisdiction and by project.
Project developers are responsible for leasing or purchasing land and designing the facility. They also work with communities, local, state, and federal entities to obtain the necessary permits and approvals, including those related to stormwater impacts, wildlife interactions, and cultural and historic impacts, among others. Developers seek to advance a project toward shovel-ready status, sometimes managing construction of the project as well. Developers may operate the project once it is complete or sell ownership to another company after it is built. The decisions made by developers throughout the siting process are typically based on the financial feasibility of the project and on local, state, and federal laws and policies.
Renewable energy developers often lease or buy land from private landowners. Landowners considering whether to lease or sell their land to developers must negotiate terms and conditions (e.g., amount of compensation) with the developer. Resources for landowners considering leasing or selling land to developers can be found on websites, such as Michigan State University, Pennsylvania State University and Ohio State University for solar and DOE's Wind Energy Economic Development Guide.
Trusted, third party entities such as universities, Cooperative Extension, community-based organizations, facilitators, legal counsel, and others may also play a key role in siting and permitting decisions for renewable energy projects by providing communities and decision makers with a neutral source of information and educational resources. These entities can also provide advisory services to help communities understand their options when proactively planning for future deployment and opportunities for achieving community benefits when a project is being proposed.
What is the renewable energy siting process?
While every community has its own unique priorities and needs, permitting requirements, renewable energy potential, and other siting considerations, siting of renewable energy projects generally includes the steps described below. Community engagement is important throughout this process.
- Zoning considerations: Before any specific project is proposed, local, regional, or state policymakers may consider local and regional planning and establishing local zoning ordinances for renewable energy development, which can include, for example, outlining requirements for decommissioning projects.
- Community input: Local officials may hold town-hall meetings, open houses, or hearings on proposed changes to ensure meaningful engagement with the local community as they draft or update local ordinances or propose or enact regional development plans.
- Site evaluation: Prior to initiating a project, renewable energy developers evaluate the viability of a potential site by assessing the available renewable energy resources at the site, access to transmission, potential environmental impacts, local policies and laws, and community support, along with other variables.
- Gauging interest: Developers may also begin to reach out to potential host landowners and/or local community leaders to evaluate whether there is interest in siting a project there.
- Community engagement: Once a developer identifies a site for development, they typically initiate or expand community engagement and begin a multi-year effort to finalize a project design.
- Public fora: Local governments will usually hold project-specific public meetings or hearings to provide an opportunity for public input on a proposed renewable energy project. During these community forums, stakeholders may discuss the proposed project’s location, size, or design considerations, potential impacts and benefits to the local area, community benefits, decommissioning plans, and questions about the proposed technology and other considerations of the project.
- Land lease or sale: Developers negotiate leases, also known as “site control agreements,” with interested landowners for project development, construction, and operation. Alternatively, they may purchase the land.
- Interconnection agreements: Developers need to obtain grid interconnection agreements from the regional grid operator, which can involve conducting studies on potential interconnection points.
- Environmental studies: Developers conduct studies to identify potential environmental or wildlife impacts and prepare to implement mitigation strategies, where appropriate
- Compliance review: Developers ensure the project’s design, construction, and operation will fully comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations, such as local or state zoning ordinances and federal protections (e.g., Endangered Species Act). This includes securing permits as necessary. A developer may also be required to apply for a special use permit or a conditional use permit for a specific project based on the requirements of the relevant siting authority.
Where can I find siting resources for wind, solar, water, and geothermal projects?
DOE resources below provide further information on siting and permitting for specific renewable energy technologies.
Wind Energy Siting
- Factors specifically impacting wind project site selection on the DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office's (WETO) WindExchange website.
- A WINDExchange report on Land-Based Wind Energy Siting.
- A database of wind turbines in the United States.
- A database of detailed wind resource data covering the United States and several other countries.
Solar Energy Siting
- Factors specifically impacting large-scale solar siting from DOE's Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO).
- Solar@scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes funded by SETO.
- A survey on perceptions from neighbors of large-scale solar facilities.
Water Power Siting
- Catalogued tools, datasets, and information resources from DOE's Water Power Technologies Office to help water power stakeholders better understand, develop, and deploy hydropower and marine energy technologies.
Geothermal Power Permitting
- Resources related to permitting for geothermal power development from DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Office.
DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy hosts a State Siting Workshop Series to support state energy offices to address challenges related to siting and permitting. Watch previous workshops.
DOE's Interconnection Innovation e-Xchange (i2X™) seeks to enable simpler, faster, and fairer interconnection of energy resources. Explore the i2x Transmission Interconnection Roadmap and become an i2x partner.
Other resources
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's Comprehensive Plan Guide contains information and step-by-step instructions for local governments looking to incorporate energy goals and objectives into their communities' comprehensive plans.
The White House's Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook outlines tax provisions that will save families money on their energy bills and accelerate the deployment of clean vehicles, clean buildings, and clean manufacturing.
Contact us at renewablesiting@ee.doe.gov