BOISE, ID – As energy demand grows in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, researchers hope to develop guidelines for building solar projects responsibly. Boise State University is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy to study different aspects of solar development, including where the projects are located and how they affect nearby communities and wildlife.
Molly Levy, policy fellow for The Nature Conservancy in Idaho, said she is focusing on how clean energy projects are permitted and placed, including how to balance issues like transmission, converting agricultural land and environmental and cultural impacts.
“It’s just becoming increasingly apparent that understanding those dynamics is going to be really important for supporting clean energy development that is both locally supported and also aligned with conservation goals,” Levy explained.
Levy has talked with county leaders, utility managers, landowners and advocacy groups about navigating the process. Because permitting happens at the local level and every county has different rules, she hopes the research can identify common themes and offer guidance as solar projects ramp up statewide…