Solar@Scale: Opportunities for Planners to Act

The decarbonization of the U.S. electricity grid is already well underway. This is due, in large part, to economic and policy drivers that have combined to make solar power the cheapest source of electricity in many parts of the country. Despite significant progress, there is still a long way to go, and local planners have a vital role to play in facilitating the clean energy transition.

Solar's Future: Decarbonization, Policy, Planning

According to DOE's recent Solar Futures Study, grid emissions are on track to decrease by 61 percent by 2050, relative to 2005 levels. This is based solely on the current pace of deployment of solar energy systems and other clean energy technologies. However, full decarbonization of the U.S. energy system will require new federal and state policies, and approximately 10.3 million acres dedicated to community– and utility–scale solar development.

Future demand for solar development will be widespread, though not equally distributed across all local jurisdictions. As we note in Solar@Scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes, the local demand for solar development depends, to a large extent, on local government policies and implementation strategies (see Table 1). And for each of these potential points of intervention, planners have opportunities to promote context-sensitive community– or utility–scale solar development in the communities they serve.

During community planning processes, planners can summarize the potential benefits of locally sited solar facilities and facilitate conversations about potential tradeoffs. Planners can also help analyze the effects of existing policies on solar development opportunities and identify preferred sites for community– and utility–scale projects based on community priorities.

Once a community has articulated a vision for large-scale solar development, planners help make this vision a reality by drafting zoning regulations that acknowledge large-scale solar development as a distinct permissible land use.

Through well-crafted zoning standards, planners can also encourage low-impact solar development on previously developed sites or through pollinator-friendly ground cover or the co-location of solar energy systems and agricultural activities.

Solar Project Planning for Planners

Many, if not most, large-scale solar development projects will need one or more discretionary land-use approvals. Through development review processes, planners can shape community– and utility–scale solar projects in ways that increase benefits and reduce tradeoffs. This can start with pre-application meetings and continue through the drafting of conditions of approval.

Additionally, some communities have local-government-owned sites that could host community– or utility–scale solar facilities. In these communities, planners can help facilitate public-private solar development partnerships by screening potential sites and crafting project objectives.

Lastly, some communities may elect to offer technical or financial assistance for solar projects that advance equitable development or other high-priority local goals. Depending on the nature of these efforts, planners may assist with program design, administration, or evaluation.

For an in-depth discussion, see the new Solar@Scale guidebook. 

Have a question about Solar@Scale or want to share your experiences with planning and zoning for large-scale solar development? Contact solar@planning.org.

Top image: Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL.