Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes

Preparing community members, renewable energy developers, municipal staff and a new generation of renewable energy practitioners to understand and build consensus around resolving opposition to renewable energy facilities across the United States.

Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes

Preparing community members, renewable energy developers, municipal staff and a new generation of renewable energy practitioners to understand and build consensus around resolving opposition to renewable energy facilities across the United States.

Much to the surprise of policymakers in the United States who recently allocated vast amounts of money to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy as part of the U.S.’s climate strategy, there is substantial opposition to such facilities across the country.

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While the media has framed this opposition in terms of a few selfish individuals trying to stop change from happening in their communities, our research shows something else entirely. Many stakeholders have good reasons to oppose specific renewable energy facilities given the way they have been designed and located. The renewable energy permitting process in most states does not provide adequate opportunities for facility opponents to raise their concerns or to work with proponents (i.e., private investors) to resolve their legitimate differences. Unless local opposition is handled more effectively than at present, the U.S.’s efforts to decarbonize its energy system will be severely delayed or even blocked entirely.

Resolving Renewable Energy Siting Disputes is an online course designed to expose a range of learners interested in enabling the energy transition to consensus building approaches. Learners who will most benefit from this course include college students who want to pursue careers in the renewable energy space and mid-career professionals such as public officials and renewable energy developers.

Through a series of explanatory videos prepared by experienced university experts, stakeholder advocates, Tribal leaders, and industry spokespeople, case studies of real-world renewable energy development, role play simulations and debriefings, and short assigned readings, you will learn how to establish consensus in renewable energy siting processes.

Topics include:

  • Pros and cons of different renewable energy technologies
  • Equity and environmental justice in the energy transition
  • Regulated and deregulated energy markets
  • Siting processes on public land
  • The dynamics of local opposition
  • Distribution of opposition sources
  • Sharing solutions with stakeholders
  • Developing trust
  • Stakeholder assessment and representation

What you'll learn

  • Questions you need to ask to prepare a stakeholder assessment.
  • The importance of community engagement and collaboration for the successful implementation of renewable energy projects.
  • Various sources of opposition to renewable energy projects and the underlying contributing factors.
  • Skills in transparent communication, active listening, and fostering trust through consensus building.
  • Strategies and techniques to mitigate adverse impacts, utilize contingent agreements, and address uncertainties in renewable energy development.

Prerequisites

None. This course can accommodate a range of learners including those with limited knowledge or experience in the field.

Meet your instructors

  • Featured image for Lawrence Susskind
    Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning
  • Featured image for Jungwoo Chun
    Lecturer, Department of Urban Studies & Planning

Who can take this course?

Because of U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) restrictions and other U.S. federal regulations, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea and the Crimea, Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine.