Energy Development and Siting
About
Due to rapidly changing energy policy and advancement in energy technologies, the Southeast is increasingly seen as an ideal region for locating various forms of energy infrastructure. Despite the benefits these technologies may bring, without proper planning and siting, they can have adverse impacts on military readiness, natural resources, and agricultural working lands. Interference with military aviation and radar operations, potential habitat destruction and fragmentation of wildlife corridors, and conversion of agricultural lands which serve as buffers to military installations are examples of impacts that need proactive efforts now to avoid future potential problems.
The SERPPAS Energy Work Group is assessing various measures that 1) ensure early stakeholder notification of proposed energy projects; 2) encourage and facilitate robust coordination; and 3) make effective use of new or existing tools that could aid developers’ understanding and ability to address potential impacts.
This collaborative regional approach will establish the means to ensure federal and state officials are able to effectively influence and mitigate potential project impacts, thereby protecting the military mission, conserving natural resources, and strengthening effective working relationships into the future.
Strategic Objectives
- Build diverse partnership of military, natural resources, and energy industry stakeholders to raise awareness of challenges, share resources and priorities in the region, and identify intersecting opportunities.
- Support the creation and advancement of mapping tools for new energy development, pinpointing critical zones for wildlife, habitat, military operations, and cultural resources.
- Promote, develop, and share innovative strategies to produce mutually beneficial outcomes for energy development, military mission, and avoid detrimental impacts to wildlife, natural and cultural resources, communities, and agricultural working lands.
- Coordinate with the other SERPPAS work groups to identify strategies for the protection of natural resources and military operations and address energy resilience in the context of enhancing military installation resilience.
Resources
Documents
Websites
Military Aviation and Installation Assurance Siting Clearinghouse
Georgia Low Impact Solar Siting Tool (GA LISST)
Texas Early Notification Tool
Recommended Practices for the Responsible Siting and Design of Solar Development in Georgia
Recommendations for State and Local Governments to Advance Smart Solar
Renewable Energy Wildlife Research Fund
South Carolina Solar Habitat Act
North Carolina Low-impact Solar Siting Analysis
EPA’s RE-Powering Mapper
Solar Beneficial Management Practices Database