Note: This workshop is being made available at lower cost because it is a government-run workshop.
Some rural communities lack trust in, or approval of, large-scale renewable energy developers. In other words, the industry does not yet have a social license to operate in these communities. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is convening stakeholders across sectors to discuss the state of innovative siting practices being implemented by developers, as well as novel planning and permitting practices for large-scale solar, that contribute toward the development of a social license for the industry. Through a series of participatory discussions and presentations, this workshop will educate participants on topics including but not limited to agrivoltaics, wildlife-friendly site designs, community engagement and opposition, capacity-building for authorities with jurisdiction over siting and permitting, and more. Discussion will focus on specific practices or tactics being employed to address community concerns, novel partnerships being established across stakeholder groups, and lessons learned from renewable energy siting case studies.