The recent American Clean Power (ACP) 2025 Siting & Permitting Conference in Seattle took place amid a backdrop of uncertainty that was underscored for the 1,300 attendees on the final day of the event when the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a stop work order on the already permitted and under construction Empire Wind 1 offshore project, located 15 miles south of Long Island, N.Y.
Even before this breaking news reached attendees at the sold-out event, an undercurrent swirled across conference sessions fueled by uncertainty about shifting state and federal regulations; trade and tariff policy impacts; and slowing economic activity. While acknowledging the elevated uncertainty, ACP attendees pointed to one overriding certainty: America’s skyrocketing demand for electricity must be addressed.
During three days at ACP, as members of the Mower Energy & Sustainability team, we listened to multiple panels and spoke to dozens of people – ranging from solar, wind, battery storage and transmission developers to industry consultants and landowners to equipment and software suppliers. Here are three primary takeaways we have after engaging with some of the brightest minds in clean energy production:
The burgeoning demand brought on by rapid electrification and the proliferation of data centers means that renewable energy is critical to grid reliability. The industry expects continued choppy waters for at least the next three years, but access to an expanding supply of clean power is critical. Permitting projects and funding for construction and equipment purchases may become more challenging in the short term, but developers plan to bring laser focus to the site selection and evaluation process. Fewer proposed projects that have a greater potential of being permitted will be the order of the day. In some cases, during the next few years there will likely be gaps between the permitting phase and when projects start construction.
Relationship building is an even more important tool in the siting and permitting process. Developers need to get involved in communities earlier, and in new and different ways. Sponsoring local little league teams may continue to happen, but community assessments will help identify local needs that developers can support in meaningful ways to build lasting connections. The path to a successful project means spending time at the main street coffee shop to get to know locals and in finding a partner with local reach that can research unfulfilled community goals and identify which programs will help build community support.
How you say it is just as important as what you say. Delivering a fact sheet response to an emotional question from a project neighbor will likely fall flat. Dress the part when visiting the community or hosting a community event. Know the trigger words to avoid in project communities. Instead of saying the project will fight climate change, talk about how the project helps preserve farmland. Avoid jargon and never say opponents are spreading misinformation or alternative facts. These are politically charged claims. Instead refer to the claims as unfounded rumors and that they contain false information. Consider training for your leasing and development teams so they can handle challenging community meetings. It can take years to get a project from the concept stage through the construction phase to clean energy generation. Developers make massive investments in projects that sink or swim on the reactions of influential community stakeholders. An industry navigating uncertainty must be focused and deliberate. Renewable energy developers attending ACP appear up to the challenge.