Wind and Solar Energy
With more and more energy sources moving towards renewable and sustainable alternatives, what are the legal processes behind the development of nation-wide renewable energy, and who is benefiting? I believe the legal question I want to pursue is overall how renewable energy gets developed from a legal standpoint and how it stands in environmental injustice issues.
Secondary Sources
MICHAEL B. GERRARD, LEGAL PATHWAYS FOR A MASSIVE INCREASE IN UTILITY-SCALE
RENEWABLE GENERATION CAPACITY 1–24 (2017). Summary: This article discussed the four most important legal processes and obstacles that come with decarbonizing the U.S. energy system through building onshore wind, offshore wind, and utility-scale solar. The legal processes it outlines are site acquisition and approval, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), state and local approvals, and species protection laws. It also presents recommendations for lowering the obstacles, and it briefly discusses several corollary actions that are also needed.
SARAH DOLTON-ZBOROWSKI, LEGAL PRIMER: RESPECTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF COMMUNITIES IN
WIND AND SOLAR DEPLOYMENT, 1–24 (2022). Summary: Wind and solar energy are essential for the world to reach net zero global emissions. However, with the expansion of renewable energy, there have been increasing allegations of wind and solar energy companies’ involvement in adverse human rights impacts; specifically, the rights of Indigenous Peoples, other local communities, and human rights defenders. This Legal Risk Primer provides an overview of the wide range of potential legal risks for wind and solar energy companies associated with community-related adverse human rights impacts.