Despite the urgent need to deploy substantial renewable energy capacity if the country is to meet its decarbonization goals, utility-scale solar developers and EPCs continue to face ever-present challenges from local resident pushback. Increasingly, project success often hinges on a company’s ability to navigate community concerns effectively and ethically.

The recently launched Community-Centered Solar Development research project from Berkeley National Laboratory has been a significant source of new research for improving solar development processes and outcomes for all stakeholders, including local residents living near proposed utility-scale solar sites. We’ve covered this persistent challenge before, but two recent studies—one from January 2024 and another from April 2024—provide invaluable insights and strategies that can help developers and EPCs foster community support and achieve successful utility-scale solar project outcomes.

Let’s investigate the studies and explore how developers and EPCs can leverage this new information and how using a total solar solution can free up the resources needed to enact proactive community-centered approaches to utility-scale solar development. 

The Power of Public Perception in Solar Deployment - Understanding Resident Concerns

Both recent studies emphasized the importance of understanding and addressing the concerns of local residents. The first study, “Good fences make good neighbors,” conducted interviews with 54 stakeholders at seven different large-scale solar (LSS, defined here as ground-mounted photovoltaic projects ≥1 MWDC) sites across the U.S.

 Key findings showed that concerns centered on:

• The development process due to the lack of information provided, the degree of local community influence on design, and the effectiveness of community subscription efforts.

• Project impacts on local farmland, biodiversity, stormwater runoff, property values, the safety of solar panels, and disruption of the visual/landscape.

The authors concluded that "successful" LSS developments must broaden beyond just obtaining permits to encompass a "community-centered" approach that aligns projects with local values, ensures beneficial outcomes, and earns long-term community support.

Similarly, the second study, “Perceptions of Large-Scale Solar Project Neighbors,” presented results from the first nationally representative survey of residents living within three miles of existing LSS projects. Despite broad national support for solar energy, the study found that local opposition is rising, with residents expressing concerns about the planning processes and the impacts of LSS developments on their communities. 

Notable findings included:

• 1/3 of residents within 3 miles were unaware of the local LSS project

• <1/5 were aware of the project before construction, suggesting room for improved engagement

• Attitudes varied by proximity and project size:

  • Within 1/4 mile, positive and negative attitudes were evenly split

  • Beyond 1/4 mile, positive attitudes outnumbered negative 3:1

  • Projects greater than 100 MW elicited 12:1 negative attitudes, while projects less than 100 MW had 2:1 to 5:1 positive attitudes

• Aesthetic, economic, and quality of life impacts and perceived fairness of the planning process strongly correlated with attitudes.

• Yet many respondents reported positive attitudes despite perceiving negative aesthetic impacts and negotiating tradeoffs.

Both studies underscored the need for EPC and developers to address these concerns proactively to prevent delays and cancellations.

Strategies for Addressing Community Concerns and Recommendations

To mitigate resident pushback and align LSS projects with local community values, both studies recommended a set of strategies that emphasized a community-centered approach to development:

1. Start the Conversation Early: Don't wait until the last minute to contact local residents. Begin community outreach as soon as possible in the project planning process. This proactive approach allows you to identify and address potential concerns before they become roadblocks.

2. Increase In-Person Engagement: Prioritize face-to-face interactions with local residents to build trust and ensure community concerns are heard and addressed. This approach helps to humanize the project and fosters a sense of collaboration. Providing opportunities for residents to participate in public meetings and decision-making processes gives them a seat at the table and demonstrates that their opinions and concerns matter.

3. Use Third-Party Intermediaries as Liaisons: Engaging local third-party intermediaries or local organizations, like universities or non-profit groups, as community liaisons can bridge the gap between developers and residents. These intermediaries can act as neutral parties who facilitate communication, advocate for the community’s interests, and help negotiate solutions that satisfy both parties. This also legitimizes the process proving that EPCs and developers approach concerns fairly.

4. Communicate Tradeoffs Transparently: Clear and honest communication about the potential tradeoffs of LSS projects is crucial. Developers should provide comprehensive information on the project's benefits and possible drawbacks, enabling residents to make informed decisions and feel trusted and respected.

5. Ensure Local Economic Benefits: Developers should explicitly incorporate local economic benefits into their projects, such as job creation, community investments, and subscription carve-outs for local residents. These benefits can win over community support while aligning the project with local economic development goals.

6. Align with Local Land-Use Plans: By aligning LSS projects with existing local land-use plans and community values, developers can ensure residents see the projects as complementary to the community’s long-term goals rather than as disruptive. The research found that residents often prefer projects located on disturbed sites, such as landfills or former industrial areas, rather than in forests or productive farmland.

These insights underscore the importance of prioritizing community engagement from project conception.

Streamlining Utility-Scale Solar Success with TrinaPro

Engaging with local communities is essential, but it can also be time-consuming and resource-intensive. That's where TrinaPro comes in. By partnering with TrinaPro for procurement and pre-engineering design, solar companies can free up resources to focus on building solid relationships with local residents.

As a total solar solution for utility-scale solar projects, TrinaPro bundles ultra-high-powered Vertex N modules with the cutting-edge TrinaTracker and the innovative TrinaStorage. This integrated approach streamlines procurement, ensures widespread component compatibility, optimizes installations, and enhances PV system performance, enabling EPCs and developers to deliver maximum value for both the utility or IPP customer and the local community.

Ready to streamline your utility-scale solar projects so you can take a more community-centered approach? Contact our US-based TrinaPro team today to learn more about our total solar solutions.