Historic settlement unites various stakeholders to revolutionize large-scale U.S. photo voltaic improvement
by Workers Writers
Palo Alto CA (SPX) Oct 16, 2023
In a landmark accord, main photo voltaic builders, conservation teams, agricultural organizations, environmental and environmental justice teams, and tribal entities introduced their settlement to advance large-scale U.S. photo voltaic improvement whereas championing land conservation and supporting local people pursuits. The settlement is the results of a 20-month “Photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue” convened by Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Atmosphere, the Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
The settlement marks a significant turning level in resolving conflicts over growing main U.S. photo voltaic initiatives and associated conservation and group considerations.
Over the subsequent 10 years, U.S. photo voltaic vitality output is predicted to extend five-fold, serving to to handle local weather change and convey clear and reasonably priced vitality to extra communities. The speedy improve in utility- scale photo voltaic additionally signifies that the business should deal with varied points, together with agricultural land conversion, wildlife and habitat impacts, and group engagement. The Photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue settlement stresses that the event of huge photo voltaic initiatives should be clear, equitable and environment friendly and acknowledges that this can require many trade-offs.
Signatories to the Photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue settlement have dedicated to enhancing large-scale photo voltaic improvement primarily based on the “3Cs”: local weather, conservation, and group.
+ Local weather emphasizes minimizing carbon emissions via clear vitality sources, like photo voltaic vitality and different instruments, together with pure local weather options;
+ Conservation seeks to reduce impacts on pure and dealing lands; and
+ Group commits to equitable distribution of renewable vitality undertaking advantages.
The signatories are convening six working teams that can deal with key points and alternatives together with group engagement, siting-related danger evaluation and decision-making, vitality and agricultural applied sciences, tribal relations, and coverage options.
These working teams will concentrate on advancing the 3Cs by way of improved public participation practices, photo voltaic siting mechanisms, regulation, monetary incentives, info instruments, and different means. The purpose is to create greatest practices that photo voltaic corporations, native governments, and different stakeholders can use to successfully website photo voltaic initiatives.
“Main U.S. photo voltaic initiatives are important to combating local weather change however are more and more opposed throughout the nation as a consequence of vital group and land conservation considerations,” stated Stanford vitality scholar Dan Reicher, who launched and leads the photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue. “It is thrilling how motivated the events are to keep away from these conflicts and develop high-impact options – a triple play for local weather, conservation, and group” added Reicher, who was U.S. Assistant Secretary for Power Effectivity and Renewable Power.
Because the photo voltaic and storage business grows, it is vital that we prioritize native engagement,” stated Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Photo voltaic Power Industries Affiliation (SEIA). “We’re thrilled to hitch our companions on this landmark settlement to assist us rapidly, responsibly, and equitably deploy photo voltaic and storage initiatives. We’re assured that by thoughtfully addressing stakeholder considerations from the beginning, we’ll be capable of ship the equitable clear vitality future we have to see.”
“We’re dedicated to accelerating the renewable vitality buildout and should go sensible to go quick,” stated TNC CEO Jen Morris. “Bringing environmental teams to the desk ensures that we strike the appropriate steadiness, delivering clear vitality options whereas safeguarding our treasured pure sources and communities.”
The photo voltaic settlement grew out of a Stanford-organized “Unusual Dialogue,” a convening of cross- sector consultants and stakeholders designed to search out widespread floor and construct consensus round particular environmental challenges. A earlier Unusual Dialogue settlement on hydropower and river conservation led to $2.3 billion in federal funding for implementation of its working teams’ suggestions.
The photo voltaic dialogue and settlement have already spawned a brand new Unusual Dialogue to handle challenges dealing with U.S. electrical energy transmission improvement for photo voltaic, wind and different new clear vitality initiatives.
Be taught extra in regards to the Photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue and tips on how to take part in a working group.
Associated Hyperlinks
Stanford Woods Institute for the Atmosphere
Photo voltaic Unusual Dialogue
All About Photo voltaic Power at SolarDaily.com
