Upcoming Webinar: Register
Join us for the next session in our Georgia-based webinar series to integrate habitat conservation into solar development projects. We’ll focus on plant conservation, with presentations from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Michele Elmore, Georgia Department of Natural Resources' Lisa Kruse, and Georgia State Botanical Garden's Zach Wood as they review state and federal plant protection laws, coordination strategies, and introduce the Georgia Native Seed Network. They will explore how collaborations are possible to improve knowledge about Georgia’s rare plants; reduce harm that may be caused to their populations and habitats; and discuss the sourcing and production of native seed for site revegetation and habitat enhancement—an emerging area of interest for sustainable solar development. REGISTER
Webinar Highlights
Building Positive Working Relationships for Mutually Beneficial Outcomes
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Guidance on planning around gopher tortoise, indigo snake, and other species that might be encountered
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Requirements of NPDES permit, enforcement and compliance, common mistakes, avoiding trouble
Dig Deep Into Wildlife Found on Large Solar Facilities
Recording & Slides |
See the full list of webinar recordings
About the Initiative
The acceleration of solar energy development in the United States is crucial to meet the nation’s growing demand for clean renewable energy. Renewable energy development can support local economies and serves an important role in mitigating climate change impacts experienced by wildlife, other natural resources, and communities. Large-scale solar energy development can provide a range of economic benefits to communities through revenue, jobs, and workforce development, but these projects also require a significant quantity of land. Appropriate site selection, construction, and maintenance of solar facilities are critical to sustainably grow solar resources while also protecting and enhancing natural resources and biodiversity.
The Initiative provides voluntary guidance on a range of recommended practices for photovoltaic (PV) solar facility developers to consider that can help maximize opportunities to develop PV solar facilities in a sustainable way for the natural resources of Georgia. Through proactive planning and partnership between project developers, federal and state agencies, and local planners or resource specialists, PV solar development can help meet Georgia’s renewable energy needs, minimize impacts to natural resources, and maximize opportunities to increase co-benefits to the local environments of Georgia. Open, transparent, and ongoing conversations will continue to be key as trends and practices evolve in the siting and design of PV solar facilities.
The Initiative provides voluntary guidance on a range of recommended practices for photovoltaic (PV) solar facility developers to consider that can help maximize opportunities to develop PV solar facilities in a sustainable way for the natural resources of Georgia. Through proactive planning and partnership between project developers, federal and state agencies, and local planners or resource specialists, PV solar development can help meet Georgia’s renewable energy needs, minimize impacts to natural resources, and maximize opportunities to increase co-benefits to the local environments of Georgia. Open, transparent, and ongoing conversations will continue to be key as trends and practices evolve in the siting and design of PV solar facilities.
Initiative Partners
