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Sustainable Energy in America Factbook
2018by: Rachel Luo, Colleen Regan, Ethan ZindlerThis report highlights deployment, financing, and economic trends in “sustainable energy” sectors, including wind and solar. -
Clean Energy in City Codes: A Baseline Analysis of Municipal Codification across the United States
NREL/TP-6A70-66120, December 2016by: Jeffrey Cook, Aleandra Aznar, Alexander DaneThis report surveys municipal renewable energy codification in the United States. -
Wind and Solar Production and the Sustainable Development Code
January 2008by: Erica Heller, AICPThis report summarizes wind and solar power technologies, policies, development potential, and local land-use regulations. -
The Key to Unlocking the Power of Small Scale Renewable Energy: Local Land Use Regulations
Journal of Land Use & Environmental Law, 27(2): 339-367, 2012by: Patricia SalkinThis article discusses methods to support small-scale wind and solar projects through local land use regulations. -
Zoning for Sustainability: A Review and Analysis of the Zoning Ordinances of 32 Cities in the United States
Journal of the American Planning Association, 80(3): 239-252, 2014by: Edward Jepson, AICP, Anna HainesThis article examines how municipalities incorporate sustainability principles into local zoning regulations. -
EPA RE-Powering Mapping and Screening Tools: Land Use Considerations Training Module
February 2018This training module guides stakeholders through land use and siting considerations related to the development of renewable energy on contaminated lands, landfills and mine sites. -
RE-Powering Mapper 2.0
Updated September 2018This interactive map contains over 130,000 contaminated sites across the U.S. evaluated for their renewable energy development potential. -
Quantifying the Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: A Guide for State and Local Governments
Revised July 2018by: Denise Mulholland, Julie Rosenberg, Carolyn SnyderThis guide provides governments and policymakers an analytical framework, various tools, and case studies to quantify benefits from energy efficiency and renewable energy. -
Tompkins County, NY, Tools to Promote and Regulate the Deployment of Renewable Energy Systems
June 2017This guide provides municipalities in Tompkins County, NY, with regulatory recommendations for crafting wind and solar ordinances aligned with the county comprehensive plan. -
Buying Clean Electricity: How Cities Benefit from Power Purchase Agreements
September 2018by: Jessica Leung, Amy BaileyThis briefing paper explores the power purchase agreement (PPA) model as an approach to purchasing renewable energy. -
Vermont Guidance for Municipal Enhanced Energy Planning Standards
March 2017This guide helps Vermont municipalities develop enhanced energy plans, aiding with existing energy conditions, establishing local targets aligned with state energy goals, and mapping renewable energy development potential. -
Handbook on Siting Renewable Energy Projects While Addressing Environmental Issues
2015This guide provides an overview of, and resources for, siting renewable energy projects on environmentally degraded lands. -
Selma, NC, Code of Ordinances
Updated February 2017These regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Tiny Houses and Micro-Apartments collections. -
Albany, CA, Climate Action Plan
Adopted April 2010The city's Climate Action Plan's Buildings and Energy Strategy lists renewable energy use, including solar energy, as an important part of the city's climate strategies. -
Ann Arbor, MI, Downtown Ann Arbor Design Guidelines
Adopted January 2011This standalone policy belongs to the Design Review and Solar Energy collections. -
Albany, NY, Municipal Code
Updated April 2017The city's zoning ordinance permits accessory solar energy systems by right in all districts and provides standards for these uses. -
Amherst, MA, Master Plan
Adopted February 2010The town's Master Plan addresses solar as a sustainability strategy in its Natural and Cultural Resources Element as well as its Services and Facilities element. -
Andover, MN, 2008 Comprehensive Plan Update
Adopted 2008The city's Comprehensive Plan includes land use goals and policies in support of access to solar energy. -
Anaheim, CA, General Plan
Updated April 2018by:The Green Element of the city's General Plan encourages solar siting and building design. -
Arlington County, VA, Community Energy Plan
Adopted June 2013This functional plan, adopted as an element of the comprehensive plan, sets goals and policies of increasing the use of renewable energy. -
Arlington Sustainability Action Plan Volume I: Climate Action Plan
Adopted May 2005by: City of Arlington Plng & CmtyThis functional plan lists installation of renewable energy technologies on both municipal and private buildings as an important strategy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. -
Historic Districts and Landmarks Guidelines
Updated 2006This guide addresses the placement of solar panels on historic buildings. -
Bellingham, WA, Policy No. 2010-003: Solar Water Heating Systems
February 2010by: City of BellinghamThis standalone policy clarifies permitting and installation requirements for residential solar water heating systems. -
Tompkins County, NY, Energy Roadmap: Evaluating our Energy Resources
Adopted March 2016This functional plan analyzes local resources and sets technology-specific goals for meeting renewable energy generation targets set by the county’s comprehensive plan. -
Minneapolis, MN, Energy Pathways: A Framework for Local Energy Action
February 2014by: Center for Energy and EnvironmentThis functional plan presents a vision for the city's future energy use and a strategy to achieve that vision. -
Holland, MI, Community Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy
September 2011This functional plan discusses the city’s future energy goals and analyzes alternative energy pathways. -
Mason City, IA, City Code
Updated December 2018by: City of Mason City Cmty Dev DeptThese regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Wind Energy collections. -
Story County, IA, Code of Ordinances
Updated December 2018These regulations belong to the Content-Neutral Sign Regulation, Solar Energy, and Wind Energy collections. -
Iron County, UT, Code of Ordinances
Updated December 2018These regulations belong to the Solar Energy and Wind Energy collections. -
Lake Oswego, OR, Municipal Code
Updated March 2018The city's community development code belongs to the Downtown Revitalization, Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and Solar Energy collections.Lake Oswego, OR -
Ketchum, ID, Municipal Code
Updated July 16, 2018by: City of Ketchum, IDThis regulation belongs to the Outdoor Lighting and Solar Energy collections. -
Mammoth Lakes, CA, Municipal Code
Updated November 1, 2017This regulation belongs to the Outdoor Lighting and Solar Energy collections. -
Santa Barbara, CA, Land Development Regulations
Updated September 2018The county's Land Use and Development Code includes a section on solar energy systems. -
Santa Cruz County, CA, County Code
Updated May 2018The county code protects environmentally sensitive areas and provides standards and exemptions for solar energy systems. -
Santa Clarita, CA, Municipal Code
Updated June 2018The city's zoning code establishes solar energy systems as a Class I approval in accordance with state requirements and allows solar carports in all districts with administrative permit approval. -
Sedona, AZ, Land Development Code
Updated October 2017The city's land development code provides flexibility in yard and screening requirements for solar energy systems; planned development proposals must address solar access. -
Shakopee, MN, 2030 Comprehensive Plan
Adopted August 2009This plan discusses solar access issues and sets a goal of promoting solar energy use. -
Santa Fe County, NM, Sustainable Growth Management Plan
Adopted 2015This comprehensive plan belongs to the Home Occupations and Solar Energy collections. -
Georgia Model Solar Zoning Ordinance
Version 1.0, July 2018This model ordinance provides a template to help cities and counties in Georgia draft development regulations for different solar energy system types and sizes. -
Palm Desert, CA, Comprehensive General Plan
Adopted November, 2016The city's general plan provides several policies and programs that support development of solar and other local alternative energy sources, as well as conservation of environmentally sensitive areas. -
Cottage Grove, MN, City Code
Updated February 2022by: City of Cottage Grove, MNThe city's code permits accessory solar energy systems in all districts, promotes solar access design, and incentivizes solar site planning. -
Holland Township, NJ, Township Code
Updated December 2018This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Southampton, NY, Municipal Code
Updated April 2019This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Smithtown, NY, Municipal Code
Updated May 2019This regulation belongs to the Age-Friendly Communities and Solar Energy collections. -
Chico, CA, 2030 General Plan
Adopted April 2011This comprehensive plan includes goals, policies, and actions to reduce nonrenewable energy resource consumption by supporting renewable energy technologies and passive solar design principles in new development. -
Santa Barbara, CA, Municipal Code
Updated March 2019The city's zoning code defines solar-related terms and sets building height limitations in residential districts to protect solar access. -
Renewable Energy in Cities
October 2016by: Jasper Rigter, Deger Saygin, Ghislaine KiefferThis report provides a systems-based overview of renewable energy in cities, highlighting numerous case studies, policies, and recommendations for integrated urban and energy planning. -
Roseville, CA, Municipal Code
Update May 2020These regulations belong to the Hazard Mitigation and Solar Energy collections. -
Ames, IA, Municipal Code
Updated March 2019These regulations belong to the Environmentally Sensitive Areas, and Solar Energy collections.