Smart Siting for a Renewable Energy Future: U.S.
Siting solar and wind projects in the right places means lower project risks, increased community support and better outcomes for nature. Below are tools and resources to facilitate smart renewable energy siting in the U.S.
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Site Renewables Right: U.S.
This tool identifies where renewable energy can be developed in the central U.S. while avoiding impacts to wildlife, nature and people. Learn more and use the tool
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Marine Mapping Tool
Mapping tool to help inform conservation and mitigation actions for Atlantic Ocean species and habitats. Learn more and use the tool
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Georgia Low Impact Solar Siting Tool (GA LISST)
Georgia’s land characteristics and plentiful sunshine make the state perfect for home-grown renewable energy. This tool aims to accelerate large-scale solar development in areas of lower environmental sensitivity. Learn more and use the tool
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Recommended Practices for Responsible Siting and Design of Solar in Georgia
Voluntary guidance to support consideration of natural resources during the development of photovoltaic solar in Georgia. From U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Wildlife Federation & TNC. Read the report
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Charting a Clean Energy Future in the U.S. Midwest
A pathway for Midwest businesses to attain greenhouse gas reduction targets—while lessening impacts on nature and people from the renewable buildout. Learn more and read the report
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Power of Place - U.S. National
TNC’s national Power of Place report can help energy planners and policymakers in the United States execute net-zero strategies that maximize benefits for climate, nature, and people. Learn more & read the report
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Greening the Clean Energy Transition
Smart Siting and Pollinator-Friendly Solar Energy in Illinois Read the report
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Coal Infrastructure Reuse Study
Pathways to Reuse for Wyoming’s Coal Industry Infrastructure Read the report
Smart Siting for a Renewable Energy Future: India
Tools and other resources to facilitate smart renewable energy siting in India.
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SiteRight: India
The SiteRight tool identifies areas in India where solar and wind development is less likely to encounter socio-ecological conflicts, thereby helping to reduce project delays and cost overruns. Learn more and use the tool
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Scaling Up Renewable Energy Deployment in India
Pathways to speed up renewable energy deployment in India and reduce socioecological risks in renewable energy siting. Read the report
Smart Siting for a Renewable Energy Future: Europe
Tools and other resources to facilitate smart renewable energy siting in Europe.
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Identifying low-conflict areas for wind and solar development in Europe
This research paper presents scenarios in line with REPowerEU package to identify Renewables Acceleration Areas that support rapid renewable expansion while ensuring minimal harm to biodiversity and rural communities. Read the paper
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Europe Energy Practitioners Guide
Mapping a Sustainable Renewable Energy Transition: Handbook for Practitioners Version 1 Download the guide
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Operational Blueprint for the Energy Community
A step-by-step guide to establishing Renewables Acceleration Areas for decision-makers and experts across the Energy Community region. Download the blueprint
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Croatia Biodiversity Conflict Maps
These maps integrate data on habitats, species, and ecological processes, allowing for accurate risk assessments and informed decision-making on solar and wind energy development. View the maps
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Mapping a Renewable Future in North Macedonia
Mapping tool and study outlining siting blueprint for renewables in North Macedonia (available in English and Macedonian). Read the report and view the map
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Mapping Serbia’s Solar Potential
This map overlays solar development potential with impact potential, as well as a selection of the 100 best sites for solar development in Serbia. Learn more & view the map
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Montenegro’s Energy Transition
A pilot study in Nikšić to help inform ongoing nationwide siting analysis. Read the report
Mining the Sun
The latest research and guidance on repurposing mine lands and brownfields for renewable energy.
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Mining the Sun
Repurposing mines and brownfields for clean energy can reduce costs, accelerate the clean energy transition and protect wildlife. Read the report
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Mining the Sun: Fact Sheet
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Mining the Sun Brownfields and Mine Lands Data
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Mining the Sun Solar Suitability Data
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Roadmap for Solar on Mine Lands in West Virginia
Emerging opportunity to grow the West Virginia economy, attract new employers, increase investment and create jobs. Read the full report
Renewable Energy Markets & Best Practices
Guidance and best practices for integrating climate, conservation and community values into renewable energy procurement processes and markets.
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PowerPlant 2.0
A guidebook for integrating biodiversity with renewable energy and grid projects. Read the report
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Enabling a Community-Powered Energy Transition
Good practices for engaging stakeholders, fostering collaboration, and promoting the socioeconomic benefits of renewable energy. Read the report
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Net-Positive Biodiversity in Offshore Renewable Energy
Report outlining minimum criteria and recommendations for action by ORE developers. Read the report
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The Purpose-Driven Toolkit
A market resource to accelerate environmentally and socially driven clean energy procurement. Learn more
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Non-Price Criteria in State Offshore Wind
Using Non-Price Criteria in State Offshore Wind Solicitations to Advance Net Positive Biodiversity Goals Read the report
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Offshore Wind for Nature Symposium
TNC and The Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law hosted a two-day symposium exploring opportunities for offshore wind projects to help respond to biodiversity loss and improve environmental outcomes. Watch the recordings
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Offshore Wind for Nature Symposium: Summary Report
Can Offshore Wind Development Have a Net Positive Impact on Biodiversity? Regulatory and Scientific Perspectives and Considerations Read the report
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Beyond Carbon-Free
A Framework for Purpose-Led Renewable Energy Procurement and Development Read the report
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More than a Megawatt
Embedding Social & Environmental Impact in the Renewable Energy Procurement Process Read the report
Powering with Policy & Partnerships
Policy and permitting guidance, frameworks, and white papers.
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Clean Energy Can Help With Affordable Electric Bills For Families
Adding clean energy to the grid can provide real economic relief to American families in times of financial strain. Policies must make clean energy possible, writes TNC global board chair, Bill Frist. Read the op-ed
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Permitting Reform White Paper: U.S.
Improving the Environmental Permitting Process for Clean Energy Infrastructure Read the report
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Low Impact Siting Policy Framework: India
Balancing a Trifecta of Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, and Social Inclusivity. Read the report
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Rewarding and incentivising nature-inclusive solar through EU policy
Policy paper from SolarPower Europe and TNC to support the integration of biodiversity considerations in solar energy projects. Read the report
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Best Practices for Reforming State-Level Renewable Energy Siting: U.S.
Clean Air Task Force (CATR), National Resources Defense Council (NDRC) and TNC commissioned E3 to evaluate barriers to renewable energy development in eight U.S. states, with a specific focus on siting and permitting policies. Learn more and read the study
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Solar Uncommon Dialogue
Historic agreement that unites diverse stakeholders to revolutionize large-scale U.S. solar development Learn more
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Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition: U.K.
Recommendations to U.K. policy makers. Read the paper
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Accelerating the Renewable Energy Transition: EU
How effective implementation can become a game-changer for the European energy transition. Read the paper
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T20 Policy Brief: Forging a Nature-Positive Energy Transition
Recommendations to the G20 for accelerating energy transformation while ensuring that biodiversity and natural ecosystems are not degraded. Read the paper
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Clean and Green Pathways for the Renewable Energy Buildout
Highlights six critical ways governments, corporations and lenders can promote a clean and green renewable energy future. Read the report
Leading with Science
Peer-reviewed science and other science-based publications.
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Is our climate fight killing the environment? A case for smart from the start planning Read the study
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Potential impacts of proposed lithium extraction on biodiversity and conservation in the contiguous United States Read the study
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Ecological impacts of centralized large-scale photovoltaics and wind farms: Progress and prospects Read the study
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The Road to India’s Renewable Energy Transition Must Pass through Crowded Lands Read the study
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Low impact siting for wind power facilities in the Southeast United States Read the study
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Solar Energy-driven Land-cover Change Could Alter Landscapes Critical to Animal Movement in the Continental United States Read the study
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Modeling migration and movement of gray bats Read the study
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Minimizing habitat conflicts in meeting net-zero energy targets in the western United States Read the study
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Balancing renewable energy and river resources by moving from individual assessments of hydropower projects to energy system planning Read the study
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An Artificial Intelligence Dataset for Solar Energy Locations in India Read the study
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Hitting the Target but Missing the Mark: Unintended Environmental Consequences of the Paris Climate Agreement Read the study