The best spots for clean energy projects are banning them

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Every morning, the Energy News Network’s team of newsletter writers and I scan local news headlines for the latest clean energy news. And it seems like every morning, there’s a new story about a town or county that’s restricting solar or wind development.

An analysis published this week by USA Today puts a number on just how common these bans, moratoriums, and zoning restrictions have become.

While more than 180 counties have built their first wind power projects over the last decade, nearly twice as many have blocked wind development. And for every county that built its first solar project, one blocked solar development.

In all, 15% of U.S. counties have some sort of policy that’s limiting renewable energy projects, according to data the newspaper compiled from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, and more than a year’s worth of media reports.

While some developers have been caught up in costly delays, these local policies aren’t likely to stop clean energy’s progress. A Union of Concerned Scientists study from last year found that decarbonizing the U.S.’s power supply will only require 1% of all the land in the lower 48 states. That’s still a huge 19,700 square miles, but it’s just a fraction of the land currently set aside for oil and gas drilling.

More clean energy news

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🚘 Home EV charging is key: Industry experts say ensuring both homeowners and renters can install electric vehicle charging equipment at home will be key to speeding the EV transition. (Utility Dive)

👂 Listen before you leap: Analysts and advocates urge clean energy developers to consult with tribal nations early in the planning phase rather than risk expensive legal challenges later on. (Grist)

🌀 Stronger storms are brewing: Scientists propose a new Category 6 for hurricanes, saying storms are already exceeding current categories as the world warms. (Axios)

🧇 Utilities waffle on climate: The largest U.S. utilities have offered uneven support and sometimes conflicting positions while lobbying on climate policy in recent years, according to a nonprofit group’s new report. (Utility Dive)

🌩️ Can solar weather storms? Damage from severe weather such as hail, high wind and snowfall can permanently reduce solar panels’ energy output, researchers find. (Utility Dive)

📈 Gas giant: The U.S. has skyrocketed from a small player in the global natural gas market to the world’s top supplier over the last eight years, even as countries increasingly pledge to move away from fossil fuels. (New York Times)

🔌 Charting an electric course: An electrification nonprofit releases a planning tool to help homeowners map their phaseout from fossil fuels. (Canary Media)

🌈 The hydrogen rainbow expands: Researchers and fossil fuel companies explore the viability of ​“gold” hydrogen that’s sourced via underground drilling. (E&E News)

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