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
- North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study – 2025 Update (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025)
- 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
- North Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Abatement: A Simple Guide
Agrivoltaics
- American Solar Grazing Association, Solar Grazing Documentary Film
- 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
- North Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Abatement: A Simple Guide
Environmental and Human Health
Workforce
Economic Analysis of Clean Energy
Development in North Carolina – 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
- Economic Analysis of Clean Energy Development in North Carolina (2023)
- 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)
- North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study – 2025 Update (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025)
- 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
- Environmental Impacts of Clean Energy (U.S. Department of Energy)
- Health and Safety Impacts of Solar PV (North Carolina Clean Tech Center, 2017)
Economic Impact
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)
- North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study – 2025 Update (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025)
- 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 Utility-Scale Solar – (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025 Update)
- North Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Abatement: A Simple Guide
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)
- North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study – 2025 Update (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025)
- 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)
- North Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Abatement: A Simple Guide
- Increased North Carolina Tax Revenue from Utility-Scale Solar – (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025 Update)
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)
- North Carolina’s Solar Energy Tax Abatement: A Simple Guide
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
- North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study – 2025 Update (North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association, 2025)
- Solar’s Impact on Farmland and Agricultural Communities (American Clean Power, 2024)
- American Solar Grazing Association, Solar Grazing Documentary Film
Decommissioning
- North Carolina Decommissioning Law (Nelson Mullins, 2023)
- Solar Decommissioning FAQ (Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association, 2021)
Economic Impact
Environmental and Human Health
Featured Resources:
Have Questions About North Carolina’s Solar Tax Abatement?
From The Blog
NCSEA Releases 2025 Update to their North Carolina Solar Land Use and Agriculture Study
A report from the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) released in September provided an update on how utility-scale solar (USS) interacts with North Carolina’s agricultural landscape. North Carolina now hosts 773 USS installations with a combined...
The Carolinas rank among the top 10 U.S. states for farmland lost to real estate development—how does this compare to energy land use?
The Carolinas’ landscapes are defined by forests, farms, and communities that shape the region’s culture, economy, and environment. While working lands and natural areas remain dominant, the states face growing challenges from rapid residential and urban development....
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...
