ERG Helps NYSERDA Identify Community Concerns Around Community Solar

Most communities welcome access to local, renewable energy resources. While solar installations may seem like an easy way to make a community greener and more energy-efficient, local stakeholders nationwide have raised concerns regarding new projects. For the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), ERG researched and compiled an extensive list of over 65 documented concerns heard across the country from town residents, landowners, professors, scientists, conservationists, and local and state representatives. These ranged from worries about solar installations infringing on historical Civil War battlefields to struggles to reconcile sacrificing ecosystems and cropland to meet energy needs. NYSERDA will use ERG’s findings to inform future research projects on how to develop community solar projects while respecting community concerns.