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Battery Energy Storage Systems
Zoning Practice — March 2024by: Brian Ross, AICP, Monika Vadali March 01, 2024This issue of Zoning Practice explores how stationary battery storage fits into local land-use plans and zoning regulations. It briefly summarizes the market forces and land-use issues associated with BESS development, analyzes existing regulations for these systems, and offers guidance for new regulations rooted in sound planning principles. -
Solar@Scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes
Third Editionby: Alexsandra Gomez, David Morley, AICP December 21, 2023This updated guidebook is designed to help local government practitioners—including planners, economic development professionals, local government managers, and elected and appointed officials—make decisions that improve large-scale solar development outcomes. It contains eight related, but semi-independent, modules covering foundational concepts and opportunities to act. -
Wait, Who Approves Large-Scale Solar Siting?
by: David Morley, AICPDetermining which agency ultimately has the authority to approve the siting of a new large-scale solar facility can be complicated. About half of all states have have established explicit limits on local siting authority, offer certain developers a way to bypass that authority, or maintain a parallel siting process. -
Illinois Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Illinois draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Iowa Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Iowa draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Wisconsin Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Wisconsin draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Minnesota Solar Model Ordinance
August 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Minnesota draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Kentucky Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
September 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Kentucky draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
New York Solar Guidebook for Local Governments
August 2020This guide includes several tools and resources to support municipalities with the development, installation, and maintenance of solar energy projects. -
Model Site Plan Regulations and Conditional Use Permits to Support Solar Energy Systems in Maine Municipalities
February 2020This model ordinance provides a template to help planners in Maine draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
Siting Utility-Scale Solar and Wind in Iowa: A Guide for Local Governments
April 2020by: Jenna Greene, Brian Ross, AICP, Jessica WyattThis guide is designed to help local government staff and officials understand the market potential of and opportunities to support large-scale wind and solar development. -
Solar Energy: SolSmart's Toolkit for Local Governments
2020This guide is designed to help local government staff and officials identify and take advantage of opportunities to grow local solar markets. -
State Pollinator-Friendly Solar Initiatives
January 2020by: Georgena TerryThis briefing paper is designed to help state officials and policy advocates understand existing state policies and initiatives aimed at protecting or expanding pollinator habitat through solar development. -
An Opportunity for Maryland to Get Solar Siting Right
Abell Report Volume 32, Number 7, September 2019by: Dru Schmidt-PerkinsThis report is designed to help state officials and policy advocates in Maryland understand opportunities to encourage solar development after the passage of the Clean Energy Jobs Act. -
Lake County, IL, Solar Energy Task Force Model Ordinance
2019This model ordinance provides a template to help municipal planners in Lake County, Illinois, draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different land-use contexts. -
York County, PA, Solar Energy Systems Model Ordinance
2018This model ordinance provides a template to help municipal planners in York County, Pennsylvania, draft land-use and development regulations that permit solar development at different scales and in different contexts. -
York County, SC, Code of Ordinances
Updated January 2020The county's zoning code permits solar energy systems as a principal use in agricultural zoning districts -
Recommendations for Utility-Scale Solar Developers: Best Practices for Land Use and Zoning Project Approval
March 2018by: Maggie ClarkThis briefing paper is designed to help solar developers in North Carolina and Virginia plan and implement large-scale solar projects. -
Routt County, CO, Zoning Regulations
Updated September 2020The county's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems by right in all zoning districts and primary use renewable energy production facilities as special uses in agricultural, commercial, and industrial districts. -
Jackson Township, OH, Zoning Resolution
Adopted January 2013The township's zoning code provides definitions and standards for small, medium, and large solar energy systems. -
Solar Energy Standards - Counties
Updated February 2014by: Brian Ross, AICPThis model ordinance for counties in Minnesota provides a template for zoning regulations for large-scale solar energy systems. -
Chamblee, GA, Zoning Ordinance
Updated April 2020The city's unified development code permits accessory solar energy systems by right in all districts and primary-use solar energy systems in two industrial districts by right, subject to use-specific standards. -
Woburn, MA, Zoning Ordinance
Updated May 2020The city's zoning code defines and permits small-, medium-, and large-scale solar energy systems -
Hendersonville, TN, Zoning Ordinance
Updated January 2020The city's zoning code permits primary- and accessory-use solar energy systems, subject to use-specific standards. -
Goodyear, AZ, Municipal Codes
Updated August 2020The city's zoning code permits primary-use solar energy generation facilities in all districts as a special use. -
Montgomery, IL, Zoning Ordinance
Updated October 2017The village's zoning code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts subject to standards; utility-scale systems are allowed as special uses in manufacturing districts. -
Huntsville, AL, Zoning Ordinance
Updated May 2020The city's zoning code allows accessory use solar energy systems in all zoning districts and primary use systems in most nonresidential districts as a special exception use. -
Houston County, MN, Ordinances
Updated November 2018The county's zoning code permits accessory and principal use solar energy systems in all districts by right and establishes protections for solar access. -
Warwick Township, PA, Township Code
Updated June 2019The township's zoning code defines "solar energy system" and provides standards for accessory and principal use solar energy systems. -
Pierce County, WI, County Code
Updated March 2019The county's zoning ordinance permits small solar energy systems with a land use permit and large solar energy systems with a conditional use permit in all districts except one. -
Syracuse, NY, Comprehensive Plan 2040
Adopted March 2014This comprehensive plan belongs to the Brownfields Redevelopment, Form-Based Zoning, Green Building, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Solar Energy collections. -
Wall Township, NJ, Municipal Code
Updated May 2020The township's land use and development code provides standards for principal-use solar farms, permitted by right with site plan approval in agricultural, industrial, and office districts. -
Vista, CA, General Plan 2030
Adopted February 2012The city's comprehensive plan includes policies to promote efficient and sustainable use of energy resources by incorporating passive solar design features in new buildings and identifying sites for solar energy production -
Wadsworth, IL, Village Code
Updated December 2019These regulations belong to the Scenic View Protection and Solar Energy collections. -
Farmington Hills, MI, Vision 2020: Recommended Transportation and Energy Policies
October 2011The city's Sustainability Vision for Energy and Transportation includes a number of suggestions for promoting solar energy use. -
Accelerating Large-Scale Wind and Solar Energy in New York: Principles and Recommendations
October 2017This report is designed to help state officials and policy advocates in New York understand opportunities to expand large-scale solar and wind development to reach the state's renewable energy goals. -
Low Impact Solar Development: A Guide for Siting Ground Mounted Solar on Low Impact Sites on Long Island
Spring 2017by: Nina Lagpacan, Jessica LeungThis guide is designed to help local government staff and officials evaluate opportunities to site solar energy systems on landfills and airport properties and in parking lots. -
North Carolina Solar and Agriculture
April 2017by: Robin Aldina, Daniel Parker, Brian SeoThis report is designed to help landowners and state and local officials in North Carolina understand opportunities and tradeoffs associated with siting solar projects on agricultural land. -
Benefits and Costs of Model Solar Applications for Local Governments
August 2016This report is designed to help local government staff and officials in Texas conduct benefit cost analyses for solar projects on public land and facilities. -
Template Ordinance for Solar Energy Development in North Carolina
October 2016This model solar ordinance template for North Carolina communities offers simple standards for three categories of solar energy systems covering both accessory and principle-use systems, along with additional information and resources on solar energy use. -
Community Solar An Opportunity to Enhance Sustainable Development on Landfills and Other Contaminated Sites
December 2016This guide is designed to help local government staff and officials evaluate opportunities to site community-scale solar projects on landfills and other public and private contaminated sites. -
Large-Scale Solar and Agricultural Lands: Balancing Clean Energy and Food Production in the San Joaquin Valley
January 2016This report is designed to help planners in California's San Joaquin Valley analyze opportunities to use plans and zoning regulations to balance solar development and agricultural preservation goals. -
Land Use Planning for Solar Energy: Resource Guide
2015by: Jessica Bacher, John Nolon, Tiffany ZezulaThis guide is designed to help planners in New York evaluate opportunities to use plans and land-use and development regulations to promote solar development at different scales and in different contexts. -
Texas Community Solar Guidelines for Electric Cooperatives and Municipally Owned Utilities
August 2016This guide is designed to help rural utilities and local government staff and officials in Texas understand utility-led community solar alternatives. -
Solar Best Practices for Cities in the South
Solar Initiative Policy Brief 2015This briefing paper presents recommendations to help cities support solar development on public and private property. -
Model Zoning for the Regulation of Solar Energy Systems
March 2014This model zoning ordinance for Massachusetts cities and towns offers various amendments to local ordinances to facilitate development of solar energy systems at small, medium, and large scales. -
Solar in Remote Applications in the U.S.: Challenges and Implications for Local Solar Policy
June 2014by: Toby Couture, Jolanta Jasina, Chad LaurentThis briefing paper is designed to help local government staff and officials understand how solar development can increase grid resiliency in isolated communities. -
New York Zoning for Solar Energy: Resource Guide
2015by: Jessica Bacher, John NolonThis guide is designed to help municipalities in New York adopt zoning regulations that promote solar energy use. -
Planning and Zoning for Solar in North Carolina
2014by: Adam LoveladyThis report is designed to help planners in North Carolina understand opportunities to use local plans and land-use and development regulations to support solar energy use. -
Becoming a Solar Ready Community: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments
September 2013This guide is designed to help planners in Michigan formulate and implement a strategy for supporting solar energy use through plans, regulations, and education and assistance programs.
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