The clean energy industry has successfully delivered multiple benefits to rural communities. Wind and solar development have generated clean energy, provided a new source of tax revenue to counties, brought additional income to landowners who host projects, and created new jobs and career opportunities in rural areas. As the renewable energy industry continues to grow, local officials are often tasked with determining the siting and zoning standards necessary to address the concerns of local residents.
Similarly, the growth of renewables has required upgrades to the electric grid and expansion of the transmission network to connect generation to consumers. The key to widespread and successful adoption of renewable energy continues to be responsible siting and robust stakeholder engagement. To assist stakeholders in conversations about the siting and development of renewables and electric transmission, the Center has created resources that address specific issues often raised during the development process.
See our Utility-Scale Energy Siting Recommendations for a summary of all the resources in our siting library, as well as state-level data on various setback distances. Contact [email protected] for any general or state-specific assistance.
Wind
Fact Sheets
A growing demand for sustainable energy generation combined with decreasing equipment costs has created more opportunities for the development of wind and solar energy projects. Wind and solar...
Nebraska has great renewable energy potential. As this capability is capitalized upon, rural communities experience numerous benefits from wind, solar, storage, and electric transmission development...
The renewable energy landscape is changing. Wind turbine and solar panel technology has improved dramatically over the past several decades and is now producing a significant proportion of our energy...
Every day, rural communities are harnessing the benefits of wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and...
The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An...
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities...
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities...
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities...
Every day, rural communities benefit from wind energy. Wind development provides new income for landowners, new tax revenue to fund schools and services, and creates local career and job opportunities...
Renewables have been the fastest growing energy source since 2017 when costs reached a key milestone. Costs dropped enough to make wind and solar the cheapest form of conventional energy. Rural...
Wind energy continues to create new economic prospects in rural areas. However, this new development can come with concerns from local communities and landowners. Often mentioned is the possible...
Informational Guide
Wind turbines are multiplying across the U.S., with most installed in rural areas. In the past decade, wind power has accounted for 27% of new energy generation. A majority of the penetration has been...
Wind electricity generation has grown significantly, with total annual U.S. electricity generation from wind energy increasing from about 6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2000 to about 380 billion...
White Papers
Renewable energy continues to be a growing industry in the U.S., especially in states like Iowa and Nebraska where wind energy accounted for 57% and 24%, respectively, of the total electricity...
The wind energy industry remains one of the fastest growing in the United States. In 2018, U.S. wind capacity increased by 8 percent, bringing total installed capacity to 96,433 megawatts (MW). An...
Research Publication
Renewable energy has rapidly expanded throughout the U.S. as prices of production have fallen and the cost of operating fossil fuel-based generation resources continues to grow. Market forces have...
Solar
Fact Sheets
A growing demand for sustainable energy generation combined with decreasing equipment costs has created more opportunities for the development of wind and solar energy projects. Wind and solar...
As the demand for renewable energy grows, solar deployment will continue to rise. Many state and local governments are discussing the future impact of solar development on agricultural land. Dual-use...
Solar energy installations are more common than ever before, with the industry continuing to see steady growth nationwide. Across Minnesota, there is considerable potential for residential, community...
Las instalaciones de energía solar son más comunes que nunca y la industria continúa experimentando un crecimiento constante en todo el país. En todo Minnesota, existe un potencial considerable para...
Solar energy is on the rise, with an estimated 10.3 million acres projected to be used for solar energy production by 2050, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. An expected 90% of solar siting...
As demand for solar energy continues to grow, agrivoltaics offers an opportunity to maximize usage of land allocated for solar projects. The co-location of solar and agriculture offers opportunities...
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 2 million acres by 2030. To produce 1 megawatt of electricity (enough...
A medida que los proyectos solares en todo el país continúan expandiéndose, el pastoreo solar se ha convertido en una herramienta valiosa. El uso de ganado para administrar la vegetación en los sitios...
As solar projects across the nation continue to expand, solar grazing has emerged as a valuable tool. Using livestock to manage vegetation at solar sites can enhance site value by keeping land in...
The renewable energy landscape is changing. Wind turbine and solar panel technology has improved dramatically over the past several decades and is now producing a significant proportion of our energy...
Nebraska has great renewable energy potential. As this capability is capitalized upon, rural communities experience numerous benefits from wind, solar, storage, and electric transmission development...
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 3 million acres by 2030. To produce 1 megawatt of electricity (enough...
Across the U.S., the solar industry is booming. Solar project sites often occupy several acres of land and are projected to cover 3 million acres by 2030. To produce 10 percent of Iowa’s electricity...
Renewables have been the fastest growing energy source since 2017 when costs reached a key milestone. Costs dropped enough to make wind and solar the cheapest form of conventional energy. Rural...
Informational Guide
Wind electricity generation has grown significantly, with total annual U.S. electricity generation from wind energy increasing from about 6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) in 2000 to about 380 billion...
Falling equipment costs coupled with increased demand for clean energy have led to a rapid rise in solar development over the past decade, a trend expected to continue. Although solar accounted for 3%...
When planning for a solar project site with native vegetation (including naturalized, non-invasive species), there are several variables site managers should consider. While the clearance between the...
The Iowa Environmental Council and Center for Rural Affairs have released a best practices guide for counties developing utility-scale solar siting ordinances, Iowa Solar Siting Resource Guide: Best...
Research Publication
The U.S. is in the beginning stages of a major expansion in the solar energy industry. The Department of Energy’s Solar Futures study estimates that to fully decarbonize the energy grid, solar will...
Solar at all scales is a growing opportunity in Nebraska. From immense growth in residential solar to the emergence of utility-scale and community projects, solar energy in Nebraska is forecasted to...
As demand for clean energy increases, solar deployment is expected to rise. Because utility-scale solar requires considerable land use, many state and local governments are prudently discussing the...
Throughout the Midwest region of the U.S., farmers, schools, and small businesses have been on the frontline of solar energy adoption. Collectively, states in the Midwest employ approximately 36,605...
White Papers
Renewable energy continues to be a growing industry in the U.S., especially in states like Iowa and Nebraska where wind energy accounted for 57% and 24%, respectively, of the total electricity...
Webinars and Courses
This webinar, hosted by the Center for Energy & Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa and the Center for Rural Affairs covers the key components of strong county-level solar...
Cody Smith, policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, hosts this webinar on best management practices for implementing native vegetation on solar project sites in the region with Rob Davis...
Transmission
Research Publication
A series of towers and poles strung together with wire and connected to electricity-producing resources make up the transmission system, which is the electrical backbone of the U.S. The transmission...
Across the U.S., many cities, counties, and states are taking advantage of affordable renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind energy. Over the past nine years, the price of installing solar...
Fact Sheets
Americans rely on electricity for everything from electronic devices like cellphones and computers to heating and cooling their homes and businesses to transportation. Energy demand continues to rise...
Electricity demand in the U.S. is growing rapidly and is expected to accelerate even more due to industrial activity, electrification of homes and transportation, and the rise of energy-intensive...
Transmission lines are like highways for electricity, moving power from where it is produced to the cities and communities needing it. Upgrading and expanding Minnesota's transmission grid offers many...
With more than 600,000 miles of operational transmission lines throughout the U.S., there is a significant opportunity for investments in conservation. By establishing native vegetation in these...
The electric grid in the United States was created to provide reliable electricity to consumers. In the past, most U.S. consumers relied on centrally-located fossil fuel-powered plants to provide for...
Renewables have been the fastest growing conventional energy source since 2017 when wind and solar energy became cheaper than coal and natural gas. Rural communities often carry the infrastructure for...
The electric transmission grid is an essential piece of infrastructure. A robust transmission system is key to linking renewable energy generation from across the region to homes and businesses, while...
Battery Energy Storage Systems
Fact Sheets
Los sistemas de almacenamiento de energía en baterías (BESS por sus siglas en inglés) están transformando la manera en que se gestiona la electricidad y la red eléctrica.
Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are transforming the ways in which electricity and the grid are managed. By storing energy for on-demand use, the systems stabilize the grid, maximize renewable...
