Won’t you be my (project) neighbor?

One recent evening, I met a neighbor of a solar project, “Roy,” at his home. After an icy greeting, he began to lament the jarring change a utility-scale solar project would inflict on the area near his property. He went on to compare me to the greedy developers in the Disney/Pixar movie Up. (As you may recall, the film begins with an adorable old man grieving as his memory-filled cottage is besieged by encroaching commercial development.) Roy wasn’t conceptually against solar, but he was devastated because of our plans.

Conversations like this are tough, and common. But listening is always a critical step in identifying issues around any project. It’s a big task, as clean energy projects encounter resistance from run-of-the-mill NIMBYs, politically and ideologically motivated opponents, conservation and rural preservation groups, HOAs…the list goes on. Convincing potential host communities to embrace renewable energy projects is a huge, growing challenge, and it’s on developers to engage early in the siting process, to educate, to adjust project plans, and to deliver real, lasting benefits to these communities. Sometimes, despite the best efforts, projects still fail in the face of opposition.

A lot of people are thinking about this, and the industry has made promising steps, like the “Solar Uncommon Dialogue” initiative that’s aiming to confront the inherent trade-offs of the energy transition through partnership and collaboration. It’s a broader example of how developers should approach any individual project.

On this topic, here’s a smattering of pieces I’ve found thought-provoking, in no particular order. If you’re in the US clean energy space, you’ve probably come across a few of these:

Column: Solving climate change will have side effects. Get over it. From Sammy Roth, LA Times. A valuable overall take. I’m sure some will take issue.

In Michigan, Not so sunny prospects for solar farms. Grist article highlighting local challenges. Published before new legislation passed that gives permitting authority to the state.

“What rural people actually think about clean energy.” From the Volts podcast. Good discussion of survey data and strategies for improving engagement.

“Everything in life is a negotiation.” From the Jocko Podcast (bear with me). Empathy can be the best tactic in achieving desired results.