The Science of Siting Clean Energy: Bridging Planning, Policy, and Practice

Building clean energy infrastructure at the pace and scale needed to meet state and federal climate targets faces many challenges, but in recent years, these challenges have shifted from technical and economic in nature toward a complex mix of social and institutional barriers. It is increasingly clear that finding communities that are willing and able to host large renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar projects, will be essential for meeting climate goals. While many communities continue to say “yes” to wind and solar projects, there are grhttps://graham.umich.edu/project/science-siting-clean-energy-bridging-planning-policy-and-practiceowing numbers saying “no,” calling into question whether current siting practices and policies can support the pace of clean energy deployment called for by policymakers. New understandings and approaches are urgently needed to plan, site, and build clean energy in ways that garner and sustain community support for hosting these climate-friendly technologies at scale.

A group of students listening to a lecture

Faculty:

Sarah Mills