Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association
The Carolinas' Voice for the Clean Energy IndustryLand Use Resource Library
This page provides information to help you make decisions about land use and clean energy. Resources are sorted by relevant audience and topic area.
Farmers
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Farmer’s Guide to Going Solar (U.S. Department of Energy)
- North Carolina’s Solar Future from the Perspective of a Farmer and a Legislator (2021)
- South Carolina Solar Panel Ordinances
Agrivoltaics
- Agrivolatics: Solar and Agriculture Co-Location (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Trends, Insights, and Future Prospects for Production in Controlled Environment Agriculture and Agrivoltaics Systems (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024)
- Agrivoltaics Revenue Calculator (2023)
Wildlife and Environment
Landowners
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- How Valuable Is My Land?
- Starting a Solar Farm: The Basics
- Property Rights and Clean Energy (American Clean Power, 2024)
- Low-Impact Solar Development Strategies Primer
- Solar Leases: Clearing Matters of Title During Solar Developer Due Diligence (North Carolina State Extension, originally published 2014, regularly updated)
- South Carolina Solar Panel Ordinances
Environmental and Human Health
Workforce
For Job Seekers
- Explore Clean Energy Careers (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Clean Energy Job Board (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Solar Job Board, Industry Resources (Solar Energy Industries Association)
Economic Development – National
- Clean Energy Jobs Potential Through 2030 (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2022)
- National Solar Market Insight Report (Solar Energy Industries Association, 2024)
Economic Development – State
- North Carolina Solar State Solar Spotlight (Solar Energy Industries Association, 2023)
- Solar Property Tax Generation In North Carolina (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2022)
- South Carolina Solar State Solar Spotlight (Solar Energy Industries Association, 2023)
Policymakers
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes (U.S. Department of Energy, 2023)
- Licensing and Permitting for Solar Panel Projects in North Carolina (JD Supra, 2023)
- Solar Leases: Clearing Matters of Title During Solar Developer Due Diligence (North Carolina State Extension, originally published 2014, regularly updated)
- Template Solar Energy Development Ordinance for North Carolina (North Carolina Clean Tech Center, 2016)
Decommissioning
- North Carolina Decommissioning Law (Nelson Mullins, 2023)
- Solar Decommissioning FAQ (Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, 2021)
Environmental and Human Health
County and Municipal Staff and Board
Solar and Local Government
- Local Renewable Energy Benefits and Resources (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes (U.S. Department of Energy, 2023)
- Local Government Guide for Solar Deployment (U.S. Department of Energy, 2022)
- Solar Energy Policy Guide Database (American Planning Association)
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Licensing and Permitting for Solar Panel Projects in North Carolina (JD Supra, 2023)
- Solar Leases: Clearing Matters of Title During Solar Developer Due Diligence (North Carolina State Extension, originally published 2014, regularly updated)
- Template Solar Energy Development Ordinance for North Carolina (North Carolina Clean Tech Center, 2016)
Decommissioning
- North Carolina Decommissioning Law (Nelson Mullins, 2023)
- Solar Decommissioning FAQ (Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, 2021)
Economic Impact
- Increased North Carolina Tax Revenue from Solar Development (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2019)
- Increased North Carolina Tax Revenue from Solar Development – (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2022 Update)
Environmental and Human Health
Local Planners
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Solar Energy Policy Guide Database (American Planning Association)
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Licensing and Permitting for Solar Panel Projects in North Carolina (JD Supra, 2023)
- Permitting Reform: Unleashing Clean Energy Jobs and Investment (Solar Energy Industries Association, 2023)
Decommissioning
Solar and Storage Developers
Business Insights
- The Law of Solar: A Guide to Business and Legal Issues (Stoel Rives LLP)
- Recommendations for Utility-Scale Solar Developers (Solar Energy Industries Association, 2018)
Siting, Development, and Operation
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Licensing and Permitting for Solar Panel Projects in North Carolina (JD Supra, 2023)
- Solar Leases: Clearing Matters of Title During Solar Developer Due Diligence (North Carolina State Extension, originally published 2014, regularly updated)
- South Carolina Solar Panel Ordinances
Decommissioning
Community Members
Solar Basics
- Local Renewable Energy Benefits and Resources (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
- Siting of Large-Scale Renewable Energy Projects (U.S. Department of Energy)
Property Rights
- Property Rights and Clean Energy (American Clean Power, 2024)
- Solar and Farming: A Perfect Marriage (Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, 2021)
Solar and Agriculture
Decommissioning
- North Carolina Decommissioning Law (Nelson Mullins, 2023)
- Solar Decommissioning FAQ (Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, 2021)
Environmental and Human Health
Featured Resources:
From The Blog
From Coalition for Community Solar Access: “American Legislative Exchange Council Votes Unanimously for Community Solar and Agrivoltaics Permitting for Farmers”
Shared from Coalition for Community Solar Access; the original source can be found here. "The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), America’s largest membership organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of free markets and federalism,...
Solar Energy Estimated to Generate a $19 Billion Boon for South Carolina’s Economy by 2035: Report
Study estimates a fourfold increase in the annual economic impact of the solar industry by 2035 if solar production increases at the projected rates reported in the most recent IRPs filed by the state’s three primary utilities The cumulative economic impact of the...
NCSEA’s Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast Presents: Solar Farm Zoning – A Farmer’s Perspective
This episode of the Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast features Tom Terrell---Fox Fothschild partner, land use and zoning expert, and the financial manager for his family's cattle farm. In the episode, Terrell lends insight into the benefits that solar can bring to farmers...
Fact vs. Fiction on Solar Land Use: Interview with Tom Terrell
The spread of misinformation about utility scale solar projects has been a growing challenge to the clean energy transition. Columbia University finished a study last year of clean energy pushback and found that disinformation is widespread. CCEBA sat down with Tom...
North Carolina Solar Decommissioning Law Creates Certainty for Communities and Developers
North Carolina House Bill 130’s solar decommissioning provisions are the result of over six years of negotiations and stakeholder discussions between renewables skeptics, local and state regulators, and solar businesses. “The solar decommissioning section in NC...
