The number of local zoning ordinances governing renewable energy deployment is growing in the United States, according to new research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The amount of land available to deploy renewables depends on the characteristics of the ordinances.

“It’s important to understand the types of ordinances in effect, specifically setback ordinances, or the required distance from a specific feature like a house,” said Anthony Lopez, lead author of a newly published paper that describes the research. “Setback ordinances determine how much land is available for deployment and how much wind and solar resource we have to decarbonize our energy system.”

The impact of setback ordinances has not traditionally been captured in large-scale resource assessments because it requires highly detailed modeling and hyperlocal data. As a result, previous assessments have likely overestimated the amount of land available to renewables and, in turn, underestimated the cost and challenges of achieving high levels of deployment.

State and local zoning laws and ordinances influence how and where a developer can site and deploy new wind and solar projects, supporting the sustainable and responsible development of renewable energy projects. For example, ordinances can establish standards for sound limits and setback distances to ensure the well-being of local citizens. Ordinances can also protect the natural habitats and species where renewable energy projects are deployed and ensure efficient, sustainable use of land resources.

In many places in the United States, zoning ordinances at the county and township level need to b