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  • Siting Conflicts
  • Opposition to Renewables
  • MIT Services
  • Team
  • Contact

THE FUTURE OF ENERGY IS

RENEWABLE.

So why are renewable energy projects so controversial?

In 2019, 77% of the U.S. population supported renewables over fossil fuels. So, why doesn’t renewable energy account for a majority of our electricity generation?

To explore this paradox, our research team at MIT has studied more than 50 American renewable energy projects that were paused, delayed, or canceled because of stiff opposition. We found certain patterns of conflict that arises when developers propose new renewable energy facilities. We’ve created an open access database describing a wide range of renewable energy siting conflicts. Our goal is to pinpoint the key sources of opposition in the hope of avoiding or mitigating future conflicts.

Examples of Siting Conflicts

Map View
Database
In Progress
Map View

Database

In Progress

A peer-reviewed study published this month in Energy Policy presents a first-of-its-kind review of the scope and reach of opposition—and it’s alarming.
Amy Harder Energy & Climate Change Journalist

Read More About Our Strategy and Impact

To learn more about our work, check out our peer-reviewed paper in the journal Energy Policy and media features by Carbon Brief and Cipher.

Energy Policy Paper
Carbon Brief Feature
Cipher News Column

What Are Common Sources of Opposition to Renewable Energy Projects?

Institutional Complexity

Institutional Complexity

Our analysis confirms that disputes often arise during the planning and development of new facilities because the "siting process" does not follow clear rules and relevant stakeholders are excluded. Often there are multiple layers of regulatory complexity that are difficult to navigate.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental Concerns

Local residents and environmental groups often challenge the scope and depth of impact assessments when proposed renewable energy projects appear to violate existing resource management plans and standards.

Financial Feasibility

Financial Feasibility

Our research shows that renewable energy developers are likely to abandon projects when regulators, particularly at the state level, threaten their return on investment.

Public Participation

Public Participation

Our findings suggest that local residents and environmental justice advocates oppose renewable energy projects when developers or the siting process itself does not adequately involve them or address their concerns.

Tribal Rights

Tribal Rights

Our findings suggest that current federal and state regulations governing renewable energy development—notably the guarantee of consultation with indigenous communities—frequently neglect Tribal rights, including the right to self-determination.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety

Our study indicates that local residents and other stakeholders often oppose renewable energy projects if public health and safety risks do not appear to be taken seriously enough.

Intergovernmental Conflict

Intergovernmental Conflict

Local, regional and federal agencies often disagree about who has the final authority to regulate the location, design, and acceptable levels of impacts of proposed renewable energy projects. This leads to conflicts that can halt development.

Land Value

Land Value

Renewable energy projects can face serious opposition from residents concerned that nearby projects might diminish both the monetary and non-monetary value of their land.

The MIT Renewable Energy Clinic

Led by Professor Lawrence Susskind of the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, the Renewable Energy Clinic is the only public service center of its kind that connects university experts with industry stakeholders, regulators, and citizen advocates in an effort to resolve disputes over new renewable energy projects.

Public Stakeholders

Navigating Land Rights

Resolving Governmental Conflicts

Presenting Site Impact Analyses

Communicating with Developers

Ensuring Financial Security

Get Started

Industry

Engaging Community Stakeholders

Streamlining Site Approval

Improving Public Relations

Following Regulatory Best Practices

Guidance from Energy Experts 

Get Started

Our Mission

By pinpointing how regulatory and political dynamics contribute to controversy over renewable energy facility siting, we believe that we can help the parties involved resolve some of their differences quickly and respectfully. Many of these controversies seem intractable because the parties have no trusted neutral source to assist them in organizing joint fact-finding or collaborative problem-solving. As social scientists and urban planners, we are committed to facilitating such efforts to allow local stakeholders (especially RE developers, utility companies, communities, regulators, and Tribes) to resolve their differences.

Our Team

Larry Susskind

Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning (he/him) | MIT Science Impact Collaborative

The Principal Investigator is Larry Susskind, Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning and Vice-Chair of the inter-university Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Professor Susskind is well known in the urban and environmental planning fields for his published work on facility siting, collaborative approaches to public policymaking, and decarbonization. He has supervised more than 75 doctoral dissertations and 150 master’s theses at MIT. He is an applied social scientist with background in public policy, public administration, environmental planning, negotiation and dispute resolution, social entrepreneurship, and conflict resolution.

Jungwoo Chun

PhD 2020 (he/him) | Urban Studies and Planning

Jungwoo Chun, PhD Candidate in the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning, is completing a dissertation investigating the role of intermediaries in mobilizing support for community-based renewable energy projects.

Jess Cohen

Class of 2022 (they/them) | Physics

Jess is an undergraduate at MIT, majoring in Physics with a focus in Materials Science and Engineering and minoring in Energy Studies. They are from New York State and have a younger sister. They went to Spackenkill High School where they worked with Dr. Hailiang Wang at Yale University for 3 years on bifunctional catalysis for carbon dioxide reduction. In the past at MIT, they have performed research in the Manthiram lab for two years on electrochemical xylene reduction and with Dr. Tracy Slatyer on Fermi Bubble radiation. They have interned at the Strasbourg City Government as well as with a start up at Greentown Labs. They are currently involved with MIT Divest as well as the College Climate Coalition and are greatly interested in environmental justice issues, especially surrounding energy. In their free time they enjoy reading, playing violin, and skiing.

Anushree Chaudhuri

Class of 2024 (she/her) | Department of Urban Studies and Planning

Anushree is an undergraduate student at MIT, studying urban planning with computer science and economics. She's interested in bringing a data-focused perspective to environmental policy and social impact. As a native San Diegan with origins in Bengal, India, she grew up with a multi-cultural background that makes her eager to bridge gaps between people of diverse identities. Currently, she serves as a Climate Change Scope 3 Fellow at the MIT Office of Sustainability and is excited to be a student researcher with the Science Impact Collaborative. Outside of academics, she's co-chair of the Undergraduate Association Committee on Sustainability, a lead of the Student Sustainability Coalition, and plays on the Women's Ultimate Frisbee team. In her free time, she loves reading and writing, plant-based cooking, yoga, world music, going on long walks with her dog, and learning new things.

 

Grace Endy

Class of 2025 (she/her) | Chemical Engineering

Grace Endy is a first-year undergraduate student from Westfield, New Jersey. She attended Westfield High School, where she was president of the Rare Disease Club and a member of the varsity cross country and track and field teams. While in high school, Grace volunteered for KIF1A.ORG, creating videos that helped make information about KIF1A-Associated Neurological Disorder more accessible for affected families. She is very passionate about combating climate change and is thus interested in studying renewable energy and energy policy. She plans on majoring in chemical engineering. Outside of class, Grace is currently involved with the MIT Running Club and also enjoys baking, reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.

 

Kano Tungkitkancharoen

Class of 2025 | Mechanical Engineering

Kano is an undergraduate at MIT from Las Vegas, Nevada. She’s studying mechanical engineering and political science. The highlight job of her gap year was serving as the youngest person on the 2020 Nevada Biden Presidential Data Team. At the MIT 2021 Policy Hackathon, Kano's team advanced to finals, reaching Top 3. Outside of political activities, Kano loves to build things. In high school, she served as President of VEX Robotics, where she qualified and attended the Robotics World Championship. She was also the Build Captain of Science Olympiad, where she’s qualified and attended the Science Olympiad National Tournament. She’s also conducted independent research on the engineering design of addiction in slot machines through analysis of MRI imaging under the guidance of Professor Daniel Sahl at the UNLV Gaming Innovation Lab. Kano is fascinated by both engineering and political systems because they’re both all about making different things work together in a system towards a common goal. She hopes to apply her interest in building machines and crafting thoughtful policies to advance clean energy. In her free time, Kano enjoys meditating, crafting music playlists, and hunting for spice challenges.

 

hare a passion for STEM and look to transform their ideas into reality!

Sarah Pomerantz

Class of 2025 (she/her) | Electrical Engineering

Sarah is an undergraduate student from Long Island, New York. She attended Half Hollow Hills High School West, where was president of the Gay Straight Alliance and vice president of FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Club and their chapter of Mu Alpha Theta. Outside of this project, Sarah is a MedLink in her dorm, Simmons Hall, and is a Freshman Recruitment of Simmons Hall (FROSH) Chair, where she plans Campus Preview Weekend and Residence Exploration Week activities. Sarah is also on the MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team where she works on the electrical engineering subteam. During her free time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her friends!

Alice Zehner

Class of 2025 (she/her) | Civil and Environmental Engineering

Alice contributed to this project in the fall of 2021.

Wilhem Hector

Class of 2025 (he/him) | Mechanical Engineering

Hector contributed to this project in fall 2021.

Chelsea Hodgkins

MCP 2021 (she/her) | Urban Studies and Planning

Chelsea contributed to this project from 2020 to the summer of 2021.

Alexander Gant

MCP 2021 (he/him) | Urban Studies and Planning

Alexander contributed to this project from 2021 to the summer of 2021.

Sarah Lohmar

BS 2021, MCP 2023 (she/her) | Urban Studies and Planning with Computer Science

Sarah contributed to this project from 2020 to the summer of 2021.

Sanjana Paul

Technical Associate | Senseable City Lab

Sanjana Paul is a technical associate focusing on the City Scanner project at MIT's Senseable City Lab. She holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and physics, and is the executive director and co-founder of Earth Hacks, an environmental hackathon organization. Previously, she worked as an atmospheric science software developer at NASA, an NSF REU participant in extreme ultraviolet engineering in the Kapteyn-Murnane Lab in JILA at the University of Colorado Boulder, and as a Conservation Innovation Fellow at Conservation X Labs.

Let's Get in Touch

Email

susskind@mit.edu

Call

(617) 253-2026

Visit

105 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139

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