Most big US solar projects don’t spark backlash after all, study finds

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By Michelle Lewis, Electrek. 

Excerpt: Despite the impression that large solar farms are constantly sparking local fights, a new study from researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that most large-scale solar projects in the US move forward with relatively little public opposition. The study, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science, looked at 686 utility-scale solar projects that came online between January 2022 and November 2023. Researchers found that 56% of the projects fell into “no” or “low” conflict categories, while just 19% experienced high levels of conflict. ...Researchers also found that utility-scale solar projects approved through state-level permitting systems tended to face less conflict than those reviewed under local or hybrid permitting systems. However, Katz cautioned that the study shouldn’t be interpreted as proof that state-level permitting systems are automatically better than local review processes. Instead, she said the findings point to the need for more research into how different permitting structures affect public participation and project outcomes. Larger solar projects were more likely to generate opposition, but one finding stood out: The political makeup of the surrounding community didn’t appear to make much difference. The study found no statistically significant link between the share of Democratic voters near projects and levels of opposition.... 

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