Siting and Permitting Large-Scale Renewables: Regulatory Considerations, Land Use Challenges, Best Practices
Course Details
- smart_display Format
On-Demand
- signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level
- work Practice Area
Energy
- event Date
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
- schedule Time
1:00 p.m. ET./10:00 a.m. PT
- timer Program Length
90 minutes
-
This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.
This CLE course will help companies participating in energy projects and their counsel understand and navigate the challenges of siting and permitting large-scale renewable facilities. The panel will discuss risks and considerations during the various stages of an energy project, state and county trends in siting restrictions, decommissioning and end-of-life issues, overcoming difficulties in siting and permitting, non-regulatory considerations, and other items impacting large-scale renewable energy projects.
Ms. Ansert Klami works with Young/Sommer at the forefront of New York energy issues including siting and development strategies for energy projects, with experience developing wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass and electric and gas transmission projects, as well as emerging technologies, such as battery storage systems and distributed generation technologies. Over the last decade, Young/Sommer’s experience has resulted in the permitting of over 1100 MW of renewable energy generation in New York. She is well-versed both in the requirements of key environmental and energy permitting programs and in the nuances of the New York environmental and energy review process under such laws as the New York Public Service Law (“PSL”), Article 10 and VII, the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (“ECL”), and the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”).
Ms. Trigg represents various developers—including those for large commercial, housing, and renewable energy projects—in all aspects of project development, including obtaining local and state permits, land use and zoning approvals, and environmental review under SEQRA. In addition, she assists solar and wind energy clients with the RPTL 487 process and obtaining financial assistance from industrial development agencies. Ms. Trigg has also represented individuals and businesses before state and federal agencies in enforcement actions regarding alleged violations of environmental laws, including consent orders with the EPA and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.
Ms. Gilleran's practice spans a diverse range of permitting, compliance, enforcement, and litigation matters arising under state and federal environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. She has extensive experience counseling public and private clients on environmental review under CEQA and NEPA, participating in land use-related administrative proceedings and appeals, and litigating in state and federal court.
Demand for energy, availability of funding, and concerns over climate change continue to shift focus to renewable energy development. Large-scale renewable projects face various regulatory issues and a sensitive environment of renewable resources making siting and permitting of large-scale renewable energy facilities difficult.
Counsel must consider the risks in planning a large-scale renewable energy facility, from resource availability to public opposition and regulatory roadblocks. These projects require substantially more land and resources than fossil fuel projects and endure stiff resistance in the small town landscape and social-media-fueled campaigns blocking land use permits.
Facility developers, property owners, and their counsel must also navigate a battleground between federal, state, and local authorities to obtain siting and permitting approval.
Listen as our authoritative panel of legal specialists examines the factors involved in selecting the facility site and the appropriate siting and permitting body. The panel will also discuss risks and considerations during the various stages of an energy project, different state and county trends in siting restrictions, overcoming difficulties in siting and permitting, and other items impacting large-scale renewable energy projects.
- Site selection for large-scale renewables
- Transmission and other infrastructure
- Regulatory roadblocks
- Addressing public opposition
- State renewable portfolio standards
- Environmental constraints
- Strategies for the siting and permitting of large-scale renewables
- Federal authority
- State authority
- Local authority
- Debate over authority
- Environmental issues that impact permits for large-scale renewable energy facilities
- Recent state and county trends in siting restrictions
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What factors must a company and its counsel consider when selecting a large-scale renewable energy facility site?
- What are the critical infrastructure concerns to resolve?
- What are some recent developments and state and county trends in siting restrictions?
- What environmental issues will impact obtaining a permit for a large-scale renewable energy facility?
- What approaches can counsel to developers and property owners use for siting and permitting?
