Statewide versus local permitting: Which is better for getting projects approved?

Presentation Description: Many states have statewide permitting of utility-scale wind, solar and storage projects including Kentucky, New Mexico, Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin. In other states, the permitting is done at the local level – either county or township depending on the state. The clear distinctions between state have blurred somewhat by state legislative actions in 2023. Illinois recently passed a statewide zoning law that keeps the county jurisdictional authority but sets minimum standards for zoning parameters such as setbacks, etc. Alternatively, Michigan passed legislation to move from township permitting to state permitting through the Michigan Public Service Commission. Based on his personal testimony in over 90 hearings at both the state and local level, Dr. Loomis will provide first-hand experience to support his conclusions on which jurisdiction provides more favorable outcomes for projects. He will compare and contrast the differences between different state procedures along with helpful best practices for developers seeking to successfully permit their project.