Siting Renewables on Conservation Easements: What Land Trusts Need to Know

This pointer offers land trusts tips for evaluating siting renewables and transmission infrastructure on land that they own.

Conservation easements are more likely to withstand legal challenge when the drafting is informed by general and state specific rules of judicial construction. This pointer includes a variety of drafting considerations to strengthen easement language.

This is a conservation easement deed from the Society for the accredited Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

Negotiating easement terms with a landowner attorney who is not experienced in conservation law can be a challenge. The pointer provides a sampling of easement language to orient attorneys for landowners on the variety of easement provisions which are non-negotiable. Share it with landowners and their attorneys for smoother easement negotiations.

Land trusts can play an important role in renewable energy development. This publication offers specific guidance on ways that land trusts can participate in renewable energy siting planning and implementation to support improved conservation outcomes in the context of a changing climate.

This pointer considers when, and under what conditions, a land trust can allow a new utility right of way on a property subject to conservation easement or on fee lands.

This document outlines the new Form 990 and shows how to properly fill out the information.

Appendix_02_A_01.pdf

Land Trust Standards and Practices, Practice 2C. Federal Tax Exemption, includes one element with four sub-elements. This module addresses Practice 2C1a: File a complete and accurate annual information return (Form 990 or equivalent) with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Who has the legal right to sue in conservation easement cases? The Alliance's Conservation Defense team has compiled this list of cases where standing was approved or denied.

This sample is a model agricultural easement with option to purchase.