Local and State-Level Experiences with Clean Energy Permitting Reform
Before you get started
- A permitting campaign is a long term commitment
- There might not be local clean energy developments to engage with
- Interactions with officials and citizens in opposition can get contentious
- Check in with your state or regional coordinator for support
- Work together - this should be a group project
KAOH media strategies
KAOH is a public relations, public affairs and marketing firm that provides strategic advice and tactics to help developers navigate the permitting process for clean energy and sustainable infrastructure projects, including wind energy, solar energy, electrical transmission, battery storage, and green hydrogen.
The projects they support are generally utility scale, such as a wind energy development with 50 turbines on 2000 acres or solar projects producing 500 to 1000 megawatts. These are large, highly visible developments.
Tactics they use include:
- Social media management: provide a public square for questions, comments, and information
- Identification of supporters and those opposed, both individuals and groups
- Paid and earned media, direct mail
- Radio and newspaper advertising
- Billboards
- Town halls and other events
- Petitions and letters of support
- Direct contact with decision makers
- Speaking at public hearings
Key elements for a successful development
- Energy resources (sun, wind)
- Landowners willing to lease or sell properties
- Proximity to high voltage transmission lines-
- Land use permits
Every strategy and tactic deployed supports the escalating funnel of project engagement:
- Awareness of an opportunity
- Consideration- realizing the project has benefits
- Conversion - supporting the project, aligning with their values
- Loyalty - continued interest and support
- Advocacy - actively supporting the project
Proactive outreach is needed more than ever to counter:
- Growing misinformation and myths spread by opposition groups
- Bad actors: other developers making poor decisions
- Political polarization results in propaganda about clean energy initiatives
Public opinion research shows that majorities in the US favor more wind and solar power though Republican support has dipped in recent years.
Developments face these obstacles:
- No text or vague provisions referring to clean energy projects in zoning and land use ordinances
- NIMBY - “not in my backyard” reactions due to concerns that projects will have negative effects on aesthetics and property values
- Misinformation about toxins released from solar panels, impact on wildlife, loss of farmland, decommissioning
- Concerns about intermittent generation, importation of panels, subsidies, and how the power will be distributed
How to talk about the issue
Get out ahead of the opposition: the best defense is a good offense
- Explain private property rights. Landowners should be able to decide how their land is used, not their neighbors or the government. Their land may be tied to their future financial security.
- Discuss the economic benefits:
- large number of temporary construction jobs and economic activity
- attracts new businesses interested in renewable energy
- long-term stable tax revenue for schools and local governments
- Point to the American value of independence
- The project adds to domestic energy supply, strengthening energy security
- It positions the state as a leader in energy
- It’s homegrown energy right here in our community
- Don’t try to sell the project as lowering carbon emissions. Those who support the project will understand that, and those that oppose will not be moved by this argument.
Variety of permitting process
- State siting boards
- Very structured and regulated
- Well managed objective process
- State may delegate to counties
- Examples: Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, Illinois, New York, Kentucky
- Examples of State laws concerning siting
- Illinois just passed a “not more stringent” law for wind and solar.
- Indiana has voluntary standards to become a win-ready or solar ready community.
- Ohio - local units have veto power over wind or solar but not oil or gas production sites.
- County control
- Individual Commissioners each have significant sway
- Examples: Indiana, North Carolina, Louisiana, Iowa, Oregon.
- Township control
- Challenges can include lack of organization and management
- However, small group can make a big difference if well organized
- Examples: Michigan, North Dakota
Elkhart, Indiana solar project
The project:
- 150 MW solar on 1000 acres
- Two land owners
- One owner farms their own land
- The other leases to a tenant farmer well connected in the Republican Party
- There was vocal opposition
- Neighboring landowners consisted of mostly working class residential residences,
- Some were farming families
- Opponents were organized and hired legal counsel
- Circulated a petition opposing the project
Integrated solution
Strategy
- Identify objectives and organize support
- Demonstrate support with earned media
- Call and write officials, get letters of support,
- Place yard signs
- Speak at hearings (planning commissions, county or township boards)
Approach
- Connect with local chapter of CCL
- Connect with other groups and individuals sympathetic to the project
Tactics
- Letters to the editor
- Earned media - Interview with local radio station, statements supplied to newspaper for editorials
- Ads in two local newspapers
- Postcards with quote of support from local union
- In-person events
- Social media ads
- Door-to-door canvassing requesting citizens to sign a letter of support and stay connected for further action
Results
- 500 signatures on a letter of support
- Multiple calls, texts, and emails to officials from groups and citizens
- Ample positive earned media coverage
- Supportive speakers at public hearings
- Adoption of solar ordinance
Permitting outcome
The project was approved in 2022 by the Board of Commissioners following the county's adoption of a solar ordinance. The Elkhart County solar project secured near unanimous positive recommendations by the Planning Commission two years in a row.
Montgomery County, Indiana example
A number of large solar developments in the county were being held up by a contentious permitting struggle. John Smiley, a CCL liaison and volunteer decided to become involved. Over the course of more than a year, he petitioned officials and advocated for the developments along with the League of Women Voters, often opposing proposed ordinances that would have effectively stopped the projects.
There was progress and upsets as the anti-wind and anti-solar groups influenced the Planning commission and County Council. Large setbacks around the solar installation were proposed and then defeated. For a while it looked like John would be successful, but due to a vigorous campaign by the anti-solar forces, the Planning Commission adopted a solar ordinance with provisions that would effectively chill any future development.
Watch or listen to the video to hear John tell a detailed story about the events and his efforts. (Begin at 44:08)
- (0:00) Intro & Agenda
- (2:32) Before You Get Started
- (5:22) Why is Local Permitting Important?
- (18:45) Examples of Advocacy Materials
- (31:24) State and County Level Considerations
- (44:07) John’s Experiences In Indiana
- John O’Bryan - KAOH Media Advocacy Program Director, CCL Volunteer
- Ignacio Barragan - KAOH Media VP Public Relations and Affairs
- John Smillie- CCL Indiana Liaison and Volunteer
- (0:00) Intro & Agenda
- (2:32) Before You Get Started
- (5:22) Why is Local Permitting Important?
- (18:45) Examples of Advocacy Materials
- (31:24) State and County Level Considerations
- (44:07) John’s Experiences In Indiana
- John O’Bryan - KAOH Media Advocacy Program Director, CCL Volunteer
- Ignacio Barragan - KAOH Media VP Public Relations and Affairs
- John Smillie- CCL Indiana Liaison and Volunteer