Energy Development and Siting

Energy U.S. Air Force; Lance Cheung Solar Farm Business

About

Due to rapidly changing energy policy and advancement in renewable energy technologies, the Southeast is increasingly seen as an ideal region for locating wind, solar, and other forms of energy infrastructure. Despite the benefits these technologies may bring, without proper planning and siting, they can have adverse impacts on the conservation of natural resources, as well as military readiness. Potential habitat destruction and interference with military aviation and radar operations are examples of such impacts that need proactive efforts now to avoid the potential problems that could come.

The SERPPAS Energy Development and Siting Work Group is assessing various measures that ensure early stakeholder notification of proposed energy projects; encourage and facilitate robust coordination; and 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 preserving natural resources, protecting the military mission, and strengthening effective working relationships among these interests into the future.


Strategic Objectives

  1. Build diverse partnership of military, natural resources and energy industry stakeholders to raise awareness of challenges and priorities in the region and identify intersecting opportunities.
  2. Assist with and promote the development of mapping tools that identify important areas for habitat/species, military mission, and cultural resources for early notification and communication with energy industry.
  3. Develop and share innovative strategies culminating in a SERPPAS Energy Siting Blueprint/Framework designed to produce mutually beneficial outcomes for
  4. energy development and military mission by facilitating project siting planning and avoiding detrimental impacts to natural and cultural resources.
  5. Develop and share resources to assist agency and organization coordination on energy development and siting within the SERPPAS geography and beyond.
  6. Coordinate with the Coastal Resilience and Regional Adaptation work group to identify strategies to address energy resilience in the context of enhancing military installation resilience.

Work Group Lead

Robert Irving photo
Robert Irving
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
robert.irving@myfwc.com

Resources

Documents


Events

March 2023

2023 Catalyst Fund: Informational Webinar
March 28, 2023

May 2023

2023 SERPPAS Principals Meeting
May 18 - 19, 2023
Jacksonville, FL