Renewable Energy Landscapes: Designing Place-Based Infrastructure for Scale White Paper

Researchers from PNNL, University of Oregon, University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, and the Department of Energy collaborated on a white paper that emphasizes the importance of place-based design with building clean energy at scale. The paper offers six pathways for developing community-centered renewable energy technologies in a manner that is highly replicable. In doing so, the research outlines how renewable energy landscapes can be envisioned alongside the high environmental and social equity standard that is at the heart of the future clean energy system. Read White Paper

RE in the SW: Regional Virtual Workshop Brief

On Monday, January 9th, 2023, the University of Arizona hosted an innovative virtual workshop focused on place-based and at scale renewable energy solutions for the Southwest region. This design brief explains the workshop goals and structure and presents three biomes in the Southwest United States that anchored the event’s discussion: low desert, chaparral, and high desert and plains. Read the Workshop Design Brief

Exploring Opportunities and Challenges for the Pacific Northwest Region: Workshop Brief

On January 10-11, the University of Oregon hosted a two-part virtual workshop focused on place-based renewable energy solutions for the Northwest region. This design brief was the guiding document for the regional workshop, detailing three sites that participants would consider over the course of the event: Oliver P. Lent Elementary School in Portland, Oregon; irrigation canals in Klamath Falls, Oregon; and a heritage center for the Lummi Nation in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Read the Workshop Design Brief

Designing Renewable Energy Landscapes: Southwest and Pacific Northwest Workshop Report

The transition to a clean energy future will create new sociotechnical dynamics across the nation’s landscapes. While traditional energy system development has often prioritized energy and economic outputs, a broader suite of values and perspectives can support at-scale technology adoption in this emerging reality. Community-centered and place-based design can guide researchers and practitioners alike in establishing these benefits and encouraging broader stakeholder engagement. Landscape architecture and other design disciplines are well-suited to support holistic assessments of social and environmental factors through established and innovative methods. To explore an expanded role for landscape architects in the energy sector, the University of Arizona and the University of Oregon hosted virtual workshops with support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in January 2023. This report documents the outcomes from those events. Read the Workshop Report.

Designing Renewable Energy Landscapes: Southwest and Pacific Northwest Workshop Flyer

To explore an expanded role for landscape architects in the energy sector, the University of Arizona and the University of Oregon hosted virtual workshops with support from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in January 2023. This flyer summarizes the outcomes from those events and presents guiding principles and practical considerations for designing renewable energy landscapes that reflect the current state of innovation. Download the flyer.

Restrictions and Barriers to Renewable Energy in Local Zoning Ordinances Memo

Local zoning ordinances are emerging as a nationwide barrier to siting and building renewable energy projects. Counties, cities, or towns in all 50 states have imposed restrictions on renewables at the local ordinance level. Local restrictions have been applied to distributed and to utility-scale projects; to wind and to solar; and include ordinances that apply blanket bans or moratoria on project construction. This memo surveys and categorizes local ordinances that limit or prohibit renewable energy projects. Read Memo

State Siting Authority of Energy Storage Facilities Memo

Siting and permitting authority for power plants and other electric facilities varies, with some states holding siting authority for certain facilities at the state level, while others delegate siting to local governments.1 Federal authorities such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) oversee permitting for hydroelectric facilities, natural gas pipelines, and nuclear power plants. Among states that do site electric facilities at the state level, few have currently adopted siting rules specific to energy storage facilities. Read the Memo