Renewable Energy Zoning & Permitting Essential Principles

July 24, 2024 | Online :: Central Time

0724-renewable-energy-permitting

“The material presented was comprehensive and a good foundation for permitting renewable projects.” Permitting Coordinator, Primoris Renewable Energy

“I would recommend EUCI’s conferences. I attended the “Renewable Energy Zoning & Permitting Essential Principles” conference, and it was interesting and informative. The conference speakers were top notch.”  Senior Regulatory Specialist, Fisher Associates

Against the backdrop of an evolving energy landscape, this conference illuminates the pivotal role that zoning and permitting plays in shaping the sustainable future we strive for. Attendees will gain comprehensive knowledge that encompasses legal frameworks, environmental considerations, community engagement, technological integration and more. This conference will unite a diverse array of perspectives, fostering collaboration that will empower attendees to propel renewable energy projects from concept to reality.

Join us to unlock the keys to regulatory mastery, sustainable integration, and a future fueled by renewable energy.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognize the differences in zoning control between state and local levels
• Identify legal hurdles in renewable energy development and potential solutions
• Evaluate the legal aspects such as contract negotiations, land leases, easements and compliance with local and federal laws
• Recognize the nuances related to project size, type, and location in the regulatory process
• Explore techniques for evaluating and selecting suitable sites based on zoning regulations, environmental factors and community preferences
• Review key issues specific to working on federally managed lands in the western United States
• Explore the lifecycle of renewable energy projects, from siting to post-construction monitoring
• Identify potential solutions and best practices for overcoming permitting hurdles
• Evaluate effective strategies for engaging with local communities, landowners, government agencies and other stakeholders to build support and address concerns related to renewable energy projects

Wednesday, July 24, 2024 : Central Time

9:00 – 9:10 a.m. :: Overview and Instructions

9:10 – 10:00 a.m. :: Zoning & Permitting Considerations for Renewable Energy Projects

• Zoning and solar projects, including rooftop, community scale, and utility scale solar farms
• State control vs. local control varies by state
• Zoning: By-right, conditional use permit, or ban
  • Connection to the local comprehensive plan/master plan
• Zoning: The location, size, construction, operation, and retirement of solar facilities. Solar access ordinance
• Zoning and wind energy permits, including onshore and offshore projects
• Zoning and siting for stand-alone wind machines, wind farms
  • Connection to the local comprehensive plan/master plan
• Offshore projects: federal permits environmental impact statement, air permits and other permits. State and local permits
• Zoning and energy storage and battery systems: Regulatory opportunities and obstacles

Tom Daniels, Crossways Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania

10:00 – 10:45 a.m. :: Legal and Contractual Trends in Renewable Energy Project Development

Renewable energy projects are complex, long-term, require significant capital investment and typically involve a wide variety of stakeholders. In an industry that is undergoing swift and unprecedented development, the risk of disputes arising during each phase of a project is high. The scale and speed of development, set against an ever-changing regulatory backdrop, requires careful thought to ensure that parties adequately consider and account for these risks. In this session, we consider the current renewables sector, review the specific risks associated with renewables projects and then assess potential legal and contractual mechanisms for mitigating such risks.

• Road use agreements: Special provisions for road use and fees
• Recent developments in agreements with landowners and stakeholders
• Legal hurdles and potential solutions in renewable energy development
• Risk mitigation approaches to developing wind, solar, and battery storage
• Overcoming challenges to renewable energy projects

Amy Antoniolli, Counsel, ArentFox Schiff LLP

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. :: Morning Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. :: Navigating the Regulatory Regime for Renewables

This session explores the various regulatory authorities (local, state and federal) involved in siting renewable energy facilities, with a focus on utility-scale projects. It will consider nuances related to project size, type and location as well as proposed legislation that may impact the siting process. Particular topics of discussion include zoning requirements, permitting, and community engagement.

Danielle Stokes, Assistant Professor, University of Richmond School of Law

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. :: Permitting in the Western US (Working on Federal Lands)

The federal government owns about 640 million acres of land in the United States, about 28% of the total land area of 2.27 billion acres. The majority (92%) of federal lands are located in Alaska and western states, managed by a range of federal agencies. This presentation provides an overview of some of the key issues specific to working on federally managed lands in the western United States, which can require involvement of one to multiple federal agencies for a single project.

Doree Dufresne, Senior Project Manager, TRC Companies

12:30 – 1:30 p.m. :: Lunch Break

1:30 – 2:15 p.m. :: Harnessing Nature’s Power: A Holistic Approach to Developing Renewable Energy Projects

The continuous desire to diversify and stabilize the production of energy with clean energy sources has spurred the development of renewable energy projects, with a utility focus on wind, solar, and storage technologies. This presentation will present a comprehensive overview of the lifecycle of a renewables project, from initial siting to post-construction monitoring, emphasizing a holistic approach that integrates environmental considerations, regulatory compliance, and community engagement.

Ryan Rupprecht, Senior Project Manager, SWCA Environmental Consultants

2:15 – 2:45 p.m. :: DOE’s Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) Program

Renewable energy siting is the series of decision-making processes and actions that determine the location and design of new wind, solar, and other renewable energy generating facilities. State and local governments have critical roles in facilitating and approving large-scale renewable energy facilities but may not always have the resources, time, or expertise to proactively plan for future deployment of these facilities or to address siting barriers. The Renewable Energy Siting through Technical Engagement and Planning (R-STEP) program expands the decision-making capacity and expertise of state and local governments around large-scale renewable energy planning, siting, and permitting. By supporting state-level programs that serve as a resource to their local areas, R-STEP helps communities better plan for and meaningfully engage in the development of large-scale renewable energy and energy storage projects. This effort accelerates renewable energy deployment by supporting the establishment of more predictable, community-oriented, and science-based siting processes for renewable energy developers and permitting authorities. This presentation will discuss an overview of the R-STEP program.

Juan Botero, Technology Manager, Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Office

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. :: Afternoon Break

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. :: Navigating Renewable Energy Projects

This presentation will cover the following topics:

• EPCs
• Trends
• Differences across regions/jurisdictions
• Effect to cost
• 3 MW case study

Kris Sipe, Chief Growth Officer, HighFive Solar Permitting

4:00 – 4:45 p.m. :: Case Study: New Mexico Community Solar Permitting Hurdles

This presentation will discuss an amalgamation of hurdles that can be expected during the planning and permitting process in New Mexico for Community Solar projects.

Dagmawi “Mawi” Geremew P.E., Team Lead – Project Manager, TRC Companies

Amy Antoniolli, Counsel, ArentFox Schiff LLP

Amy Antoniolli is an environmental and energy lawyer with broad experience in compliance, administrative, and enforcement-related issues. She focuses her time on land use, zoning, and environmental siting, permitting and due diligence issues for renewable energy project development and financing matters. Environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) is a growing area of focus for her practice. Amy co-leads AFS’ ESG team that was launched in 2021. She counsels clients on ESG-related regulatory matters and compliance strategies, which is quickly becoming a key area for energy transactions.

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Juan Botero, Technology Manager, Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Office

Juan Botero is a Strategic Analyst in the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supporting the Strategic Analysis and Institutional Support (SAIS) team. Juan’s work contributes to the team’s mission of reducing solar soft costs by supporting research at the intersection of natural resource conservation and solar energy deployment. Her contributes to projects focused on solar siting issues, interactions between solar energy facilities and wildlife, land use concerns, among other topics. In his previous role, Juan worked the American Wind Wildlife Institute where he managed a research fund focused on creating solutions to deploy more wind energy across the country while minimizing its impacts on wildlife and the environment.

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Tom Daniels, Crossways Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, University of Pennsylvania

Tom Daniels is the Crossways Professor of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses on Climate Change, Land Use Planning, and Public Finance. Tom holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Oregon State. He is the author of seven books and many articles, including “The development of utility-scale solar projects on US agricultural land: opportunities and obstacles” (2023). Tom often serves as a consultant to state and local governments and non-profits.

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Doree Dufresne, Senior Project Manager, TRC Companies

Doree DuFresne provides over 25 years of experience in project management, environmental evaluations, and permitting services for a range of projects including small community solar or battery storage developments, larger solar or wind developments, and large multi-state projects. Her project experience includes both direct contracts with project proponents as well as third-party contractor work, resulting in a wide perspective to successfully negotiate projects that involve multiple federal, state, and local agencies, as well as a broad spectrum of stakeholders. Her National Environmental Policy Act experience includes management and production of BLM applications, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Resource Reports, Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Assessments, Biological Assessments, and Resource Management Plans. She has direct experience with multiple federal and state agencies including but not limited to Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and state 401/404 permitting, Department of State, and FERC.

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Dagmawi “Mawi” Geremew P.E., Team Lead – Project Manager, TRC Companies

Mr. Geremew has over 10 years of experience in civil engineering, consulting, and construction management. Mr. Geremew’s background includes experience assisting various private and public-sector clientele in various development projects. This includes single family development, public park design, roadway and grading sites, and solar & BESS panel site design.

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Ryan Rupprecht, Senior Project Manager, SWCA Environmental Consultants

With over two decades of comprehensive professional experience spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast regions, Mid-West and West Coast, Ryan is a seasoned expert in energy and environmental regulatory affairs. His proficiency extends to navigating complex state regulatory landscapes, notably with in-depth knowledge of the state Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) application process, including CEQA, Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316b/404/401 regulations, and the NEPA framework.

Ryan is the generation practice lead for the North Division within SWCA and oversees a diverse portfolio of energy-related projects encompassing electrical transmission, renewables, refineries, power plants, petrochemical facilities, and gas/oil pipelines. Ryan excels in siting studies, impact assessments, and permitting for both traditional and renewable energy projects. His diverse skill set covers ecological characterizations, wetland delineations, species surveys, fisheries sampling, and regulatory agency coordination. Renowned for providing expert testimony, he actively contributed to industry committees, authors technical articles, and is a features speaker at conferences. In his dynamic role, Ryan continues to shape the future of energy and environmental initiatives.

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Kris Sipe, Chief Growth Officer, HighFive Solar Permitting

Bio Coming Soon

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Danielle Stokes, Assistant Professor, University of Richmond School of Law

Danielle Stokes is an Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond School of Law. She teaches and writes in the areas of property, environmental law, and environmental justice, with a focus on sustainability and equity in land use planning. Her work has been featured in the Minnesota Law Review, Boston University Law Review, and is forthcoming in the UCLA Law Review. Prior to joining academia, Professor Stokes worked in land use and real estate law at McGuireWoods. Her practical experience in these areas shapes both her scholarship and teaching pedagogy. Stokes received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and B.A. from the University of Richmond.

We will be using Microsoft Teams to facilitate your participation in the upcoming event. You do not need to have an existing Teams account in order to participate in the broadcast – the course will play in your browser and you will have the option of using a microphone to speak with the room and ask questions, or type any questions in via the chat window and our on-site representative will relay your question to the instructor.

• Microsoft recommends downloading and installing the Teams app if possible. You may also use the Edge browser or Chrome.
• You will receive a separate email with a unique link to a personalized landing page which will include links to join all sessions of this event.
• If you are using a microphone, please ensure that it is muted until such time as you need to ask a question.
• The remote meeting connection will be open approximately 30 minutes before the start of the course. We encourage you to connect as early as possible in case you experience any unforeseen problems.

Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Renewable Energy Zoning & Permitting Essential Principles

July 24, 2024 | Online

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before June 21, 2024 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.6 CEUs for this event

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day, be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations and Q&A

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Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 7.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

EUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

 

Who Should Attend

• Utilities
• Federal, state, city and municipal agencies
• Renewable energy project developers, investors and sponsors
• Attorneys
• Consultants
• Non-profits & associations focused on environmental policy