Earning community support for renewable energy projects requires more than a signed agreement. It demands early engagement, local relationships, and a strategy that works for landowners, municipalities, and underserved communities alike. This session explores coalition-building across community solar, agricultural advocacy, and local government, including navigating zoning, meeting CEJA’s Minimum Equity Standards, and applying lessons from renewable energy development to the growing data center market, where community engagement challenges and narratives differ significantly. Panelists will draw on real-world experiences across solar, storage, and data center development to share actionable insights for navigating Midwest markets, advancing local hiring and contractor hub opportunities, and turning potential opposition into lasting project support.
