Illinois Low-Impact Solar Development Opportunity on Brownfields and Mined Lands Workshops
What is “low-impact solar development,” and what are some reasons communities may be interested in pursuing this kind of development? How can communities identify and take advantage of potential low-impact solar sites that would focus solar development to places that have limited to no impacts on agriculture or natural resources?
The Great Plains Institute recently sponsored an Illinois-specific workshop series to allow cities, counties, NGOs, and other stakeholders to learn more about solar deployment on low-impact sites in the community. Low-impact sites include formerly mined lands, brownfields, and other lands that have a low impact on agricultural, natural resource, or community priorities. The workshops identified tools and information to help communities prioritize these projects, remove barriers that might exist at the local or state level, and create synergies with related federal and state programs and funding.
Communities have tools and incentives readily available at their disposal to encourage low-impact development sites rather than “greenfield” sites. But doing so takes deliberative action and requires knowledge, information and resources that most cities and counties do not readily have available. This workshop series is a launching point for Illinois communities to explore local options and move toward beneficial and community-facing solar investment.
Resources
Illinois Model Solar Ordinance (2024)
Model solar ordinances help guide local governments in supporting and encouraging renewable energy development in their communities. Local governments can customize the provided zoning language for all scales of development, from rooftop to utility-scale solar installations. The model language addresses land use conflicts, methods for encouraging solar development, protecting access to solar resources, and solar energy standards within the specific Illinois context, and especially in light of CEJA.
Energy Community Tax Credit Primer for Clean Energy Development in Illinois
Exploring solar development on brownfields can reduce local conflict, transform degraded lands into revenue streams for local communities, and help communities access clean, reliable energy. GPI has just released this tax credit primer providing an overview of energy community eligibility and introducing the Illinois opportunity for expanding solar development on brownfields.
Workshop 1: Understanding the opportunities and resources for brownfield development in Illinois.
Friday, February 16, 2024, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m.
In this introductory workshop, panelists introduced Illinois communities to brownfield and mined land solar development opportunities and identify the resources and tools available to assist developers and communities interested in exploring low-impact clean energy deployment.
Workshop agenda
Introduction to low-impact solar siting
The opportunity for low-impact siting on brownfields, mined lands, and landfills
Regulatory authority over brownfields, mined lands, and landfills
Technical solar capacity on brownfields, mined lands, and landfills
Discussion
Featured speakers
Amanda Pankau, Director of Energy & Community Resiliency, Prairie Rivers Network
Jeff Walk, Director of Conservation, The Nature Conservancy
Nels Johnson, Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy, The Nature Conservancy
Jacob Fink, Brownfield Program Administrator, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Workshop facilitators
Valerie Stori, Senior Program Manager of Renewable Energy, Great Plains Institute
Brian Ross, Vice President of Renewable Energy, Great Plains Institute
Additional discussion session
Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m. CST
GPI led a facilitated discussion on February 21, giving those interested an opportunity to continue the discussion on solar brownfield and mined lands opportunities.
Workshop 2: Navigating the Low-Impact Solar Development Process – Community Engagement, Planning, and Tools
Monday, April 8 from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In the clean energy future, every community is a host community for energy generation. Former mine lands and brownfields in our communities present an opportunity to host low-impact renewable energy development, and to create value on lands that are frequently difficult to develop, as described in our first workshop. But how does a community discern whether these marginal lands are able to be developed? Who can communities turn to for assistance? What financial resources can a community tap to enable desired renewable energy development?
Workshop Agenda
Welcome/setting the stage
Community priorities and authority in creating “brightfield” projects
Engaging the community
Illinois model solar ordinance
Community-focused brightfield case study – City of Urbana
Creating brightfields projects: Tools and resources
US Environmental Protection Agency’s RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative
The Nature Conservancy’s Mining the Sun program
Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center
Featured Speakers
Scott Tess, Sustainability & Resilience Officer, City of Urbana, Illinois
Lora Strine, RE-Powering America’s Lands Initiative, US Environmental Protection Agency
Christel Hiltibran, Climate and Energy Project Manager, The Nature Conservancy
Jen Fuller, Technical Assistance Specialist, Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center
Facilitator: Brian Ross, Vice President, Renewable Energy, The Great Plains Institute.
Workshop 3: Community solar: Accessing incentives and tax credits; community solar development
Thursday, May 23, 2024, 1:30 – 3pm CST
Our final workshop in this series featured a discussion of financial incentives that communities in Illinois can leverage to encourage and prioritize brightfield development. What are the new Inflation Reduction Act federal tax credits, and what kind of projects are eligible? Can cities and counties take advantage of tax credits? What are the other incentives available through state and federal programs? We’ll also look at community solar development: What ownership options, opportunities, and benefits are available to your community?
Discussion topics:
Tax credit opportunities under IRA
Learn about navigating direct pay opportunities to local governments and community ownership; how these interact with bonding or other city financing tools
Illinois Incentive opportunities for “brightfield” development
Funding opportunities for communities and preparing project for future grant opportunities
Community solar and community solar ownership opportunities and community benefits of solar on former mined lands
Steps communities can take to prepare sites for being solar ready
Contact GPI to become a part of the IL community cohort to develop projects, get connected to funding opportunities, get project plans reviewed and take advantage of other technical assistance.
Featured Speakers:
Anthony Star, Senior Advisor and Chief of the Planning & Procurement Bureau, Illinois Power Agency
Jeremy Kalin, Attorney, Impact Counsel, Avisen Legal
Facilitator: Monika Vadali, Senior Program Manager, Renewable Energy, Great Plains Institute
Want to learn more?
To learn more about our work to advance solar and other renewable energy technologies, visit GPI’s Renewable Energy page.
