Developing Solar With Local Support
Fred Unger
Proposal Status
Ready for Committee Review
Username
Fred Unger
Proposer First Name
Fred
Proposer Email
Unger@hrtwd.com
Proposer Last Name
Unger
Proposer Phone
(401) 861-1650
Proposer Job Title
President
Proposer Additional Info
Fred Unger is President of Heartwood Group, Inc. a Providence, RI based company that has successfully developed numerous real estate and renewable energy projects. He has led the development of large ground mount solar projects that have avoided local opposition through careful site selection, attention to environmental issues in permitting, avoiding impacts on neighbor or public view sheds, permanently protecting sensitive wildlife habitat and integrating productive agriculture within the fenced array area. Unger has served on the board of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association and the Solar Energy Business Association of New England.
Proposed Session Description
Throughout the country land preservationists and Not In My Back Yard activists have increased opposition to multi acre solar and wind projects and have advocated local and state policy measures that make such projects much more difficult and expensive to permit and build. This backlash should be expected with far too solar projects being poorly sited in a manner that conflicts with the intent of residential and agricultural zoning.
This presentation, based on successful experience, will focus on strategies to minimize impacts on neighbors and view sheds while building community support through bundling the solar project with land preservation, protecting wildlife habitats, integrating productive agriculture with energy projects and in other ways assuring that projects are compatible with community and neighbor interests.
Why is this session important?
Idealistic climate and clean energy goals won't be met if we don't figure out how to get environmentalists on the side of large scale clean energy projects rather than in the opposition.
Comments
ROUND 1 DISCUSSION: Elihu:
ROUND 1 DISCUSSION: Elihu: not NYC relevant, NIMBYism is not as much of an issue in the city. Other objection is that it isn't specific enough. Jodi: yes but with a lot of qualifies. Fred is a good speaker and no others are listed. Compelling because of the reference to all the different aspects of solar that require collaboration (agriculture, policy, wildlife, etc.). Elihu: I'd want to see more specific to NYS, e.g. renewable siting controversies and updates, but that isn't here. Maybe a standalone pre-conference webinar?
Diversity and Inclusiveness
One of the other speakers will be a woman with deep experience in solar development and permitting
Learning Objectives
Better understand the process, costs and challenges of the solar and wind development and permitting process.
Understand why many neighbors and environmental organizations oppose solar and wind projects
More effectively advocate and help with approving clean energy projects in their home communities
Select better sites for energy project development if they are already in the clean energy development arena or hope to jump in.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
Submitted to ASES, haven't heard back
NYC 2021 Areas of Focus
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Collaborative problem-solving session
Recommended Length
60-minute session
90-minute session
Comments about your speaker roster
I will add other excellent experienced speakers if NESEA has an interest in doing the session
Reviewer 1
Smits Anderson, Jodi
Proposal #
101
Committee Decision
Rejected
Round 1 - YES
Round 1 - YESI like the part, specifically, about taking into account view corridors, habitat, agrisulture, wildlife, land preservation, and more. This is transformational thinking and I would love to see it presented. I do agree there should be at least one additional speaker, especially if this is a 90-minute session, and perhaps we can get broader representation with the additions.