Land use issues surrounding solar energy and agriculture have the potential to create conflict and slow permitting processes—or they can be an opportunity for designing projects to deliver broad benefits for communities and achieve energy and climate goals. Continue reading »
As demand for and development of solar energy rapidly grows, opposition to large-scale solar projects from host community residents and non-energy stakeholders can hinder the solar permitting processes. This opposition is frequently rooted in stakeholders’ concern for natural resources, agricultural practices, local economic base, and rural character. Continue reading »
Minnesota’s landmark climate law requires all utilities to accelerate solar and other renewable energy deployment. But the benefits of wind and solar farms can extend far beyond providing emission-free power, including integration with, and support for, the agricultural economic base of states with extensive farmland similar to Minnesota. Continue reading »
Since 2016, the federal SolSmart program has helped 500 communities become solar ready. Now, the program is aiming to designate 500 more communities over the next few years. The Great Plains Institute is a SolSmart liaison. Through our recruitment efforts, we’ve helped about 100 communities become solar ready. Most recently, we helped Minnetonka, Minnesota, achieve Bronze designation in the program’s new phase. Continue reading »
Local governments are setting aggressive climate and clean energy goals in Minnesota. Encouraging distributed solar energy will play a key role in meeting them. The Great Plains Institute (GPI) has conducted an analysis of Minnesota Public Utilities Commission data on where and what types of distributed solar installations are occurring in the state. Continue reading »
The guide for stormwater best practices for solar farms developed for the groundbreaking Photovoltaic Stormwater Management Research and Testing (PV-SMaRT) project is now available. The best practices provide guidelines to communities, developers, and state and federal regulators on how solar development should be evaluated under the Clean Water Act. This guidance can resolve many uncertainties in the permitting process regarding stormwater management and surface water quality. Continue reading »
Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL
The Renewable Energy Siting Campaign, a new partnership between the Great Plains Institute (GPI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), with funding provided by Crown Family Philanthropies, will engage diverse stakeholders to identify “win-win” synergies that push clean energy development forward across the Midwest while preserving community values, protecting natural resources, and benefiting agricultural systems. Continue reading »
FEBRUARY 15, 2023, MINNEAPOLIS—Stormwater management practices, permitting, and regulations at solar sites often do not account for the unique characteristics of large-scale solar installations, a new U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded study has found. Continue reading »
Find out what made our list of most-read stories in 2022, which includes posts we’ve published over the last year and a half. Continue reading »
The US Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technology Office recently awarded $1.8 million to GPI to lead a new nature-based solutions project, Designing & Deploying Solar Community Ecosystem Benefits. The award was soon followed by newly announced federal efforts to expand support for nature-based climate solutions. Continue reading »
