SB 411 establishes voluntary uniform solar and wind siting standards; paving the way for smoother renewable energy siting in Indiana
Bill evolved from the 21st Century Energy Task Force discussions
INDIANAPOLIS (March 2, 2022) – Today the Indiana General Assembly passed SB 411 which allows local communities to voluntarily adopt regulations that will qualify them as a wind- or solar-ready community. Clean Grid Alliance applauds the Indiana State Legislature for supporting a statewide siting standard that will help facilitate renewable energy development in the state while helping meet the needs of utilities and corporate purchasers to achieve their corporate sustainability plans and carbon reduction goals.
Weeks of negotiations resulted in a bill that balances reasonable siting standards that developers need with the local control that communities want to keep. Ultimately, this novel approach is a compromise that will open the door for future utility-scale wind and solar development opportunities in Indiana that will bring jobs, economic development, and local tax investment to Indiana rural communities.
"Providing a comprehensive statewide energy policy has been the goal of the 21st Century Energy Task Force, and SB 411 evolved from those discussions," said Clean Grid Alliance State Policy Manager Sean Brady. "This bill is an entirely different approach to siting renewables because it allows counties to keep their restrictive ordinances if they choose to do so. However, adopting these standards or indicating they are willing to use these standards sends a signal to developers that the county is interested in exploring potential wind or solar development oppportunities," Brady continued. "We hope that counties in Indiana will use these new standards, but if not, we look forward to continuing to work with stakeholders to explore ways to grow the state's energy economy."
Renewable energy is vital to Indiana's future energy mix. Consumers, corporations, farmers and landowners are demanding it. Landowners want the land-lease payments to diversify their income stream, and counties want to take advantage of the tax revenue generated from solar and wind developments. At the local level, counties struggling for revenue can build a strong financial footing by hosting wind and solar projects.
SB411 will bolster the tax base of rural Indiana counties through the economic development and investment that comes from renewable energy projects. To date, the renewable energy industry has delivered significant benefits to communities across the state, including:
• $7 billion in capital investment in wind, solar, and storage projects in the state
• $37 million in annual tax revenue for rural communities
• $20 million in annual payments to Hoosier landowners
• Hundreds of good-paying construction jobs accompany each project that is built
A clean energy future is on the way
According to the American Clean Power Association, Indiana has 1,218 MW of clean power currently under construction and 4,657 MW in advanced stages of development. Another 1200 MW of wind and over 14,000 MW of solar are in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (grid operator) queue process.
A 2019 report prepared by Wood Mackenzie indicates that Indiana could receive over $5.78 billion of capital investment over the next 10 years from renewables. "Indiana should be applauded for enacting this paradigm shift in siting utility-scale wind and solar resources," said Brady. "This legislation is a model for other states dealing with this issue and ensures the state will be well prepared to generate low cost clean energy for the foreseeable future."
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Clean Grid Alliance (CGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minn., whose mission is to advance renewable energy in the Midwest. Launched in 2001, CGA has been an active stakeholder in the MISO process at the state and regional levels and a leading organization working on transforming state energy policy. CGA's membership includes industry representatives working in wind, solar and storage as well as environmental nonprofit organizations, public interest groups, clean energy advocates, farm groups, and businesses providing goods and services to the renewable energy industry who come together to reduce carbon and deliver a renewable energy future. Learn more at cleangridalliance.org.
