Over time, federal and state initiatives have increasingly encouraged developers to site new construction on previously disturbed land (such as brownfields or marginal farmland) near existing transmission infrastructure, while avoiding important fish and wildlife habitat and migration corridors. Regional planning frameworks that consider cumulative land-use impacts have also been increasingly adopted.

Land trusts can help energy development stakeholders in their respective areas take this approach further by applying the mitigation hierarchy. The mitigation hierarchy provides a framework to minimize environmental impact and reduce siting conflicts.

Enhancing community support for renewable energy

Conflicts between specific renewable energy projects and local land-use priorities, such as agriculture and outdoor recreation, have led to public backlash in multiple states. Using the mitigation hierarchy principles, land trusts can recommend siting solutions that balance development, conservation and community goals. Ultimately, this builds community support for renewables.

The conservation principles of the mitigation hierarchy have the greatest impact when integrated into the laws, policies and incentives that drive siting decisions.

Minimizing environmental impacts doesn’t necessarily mean keeping renewable energy and conservation separate. Evolving dual-use approaches, like agrivoltaics, demonstrate that energy infrastructure can in some limited instances be designed to generate clean power while simultaneously supporting conservation goals like soil carbon sequestration, grazing land preservation, habitat restoration and re-establishment of native species.