• Roughly two-thirds of Americans support renewable energy expansion, though stark differences remain between rural and urban Americans, with rural Americans typically holding a less favorable view of clean energy. 

• Following federal budget cuts, many community food pantries and the small farms that support them need new private funding streams, such as community benefit agreements and direct giving from energy projects. 

• Researchers in the US Northeast are studying the “Wake Effect,” which can limit wind turbine productivity in offshore wind farms. 

• Vesper Energy’s suit against the Ohio Power Siting Board has gone to the state supreme court. Vesper alleges that the OPSB was overly influenced by local opposition in denying the project placed undue significance on the presence of local opposition to a Greene County project in denying it. 

• Imaging satellites orbiting the earth reveal striking growth of solar and wind projects worldwide since 2017.

• Local renewable energy stories this month include hostile opposition to a solar project in Michigan, anxieties over battery storage safety in New York and Texas, and a failed lawsuit against a Nebraska County by a wind developer, who claimed that local regulations unfairly targeted their project. 

EARTH DAY 2025:

OUR POWER, OUR PLANET

KAOH Media is proud to be collaborating with EARTHDAY.org to provide custom clean energy focused social media content and solar success stories in the weeks ahead of Earth Action Day on their 55th Anniversary on Tuesday April 22,” says Allan Hug, Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer, “We are beyond thrilled that the EDO team is dedicated to supporting renewable energy development worldwide through the 2025 theme “Our Power, Our Planet,” with their substantial global following, and the KAOH team will be working diligently to bring our accumulated knowledge and understanding of the industry to their continuing efforts.

Industry and Notable News:

National News: Americans support transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy by 2050

Renewable Energy From Space

Renwables on the Ground:

Wins and Setbacks

• A proposed 200MW+ solar project in Livingston County, Michigan faces sustained opposition from local representatives and residents despite promises of economic benefits. Concerns include environmental impact, property devaluation, and loss of rural character, which have been shared by both residents and officials at a series of increasingly fractious public meetings. The recently-passed Public Act 233 shifts energy project approval powers from local governments to the Michigan Public Service Commission, further fueling local discontent. The project emphasizes temporary land use and economic benefits, including $18 million in new tax revenue and job creation. However, residents remain worried about the project's impact on their quality of life and local control.

WILX.com,

Livingston County, Michigan residents have been protesting a proposed solar farm

• Carson Power plans to build a 4.6MW community-scale solar energy project on 22 acres in Elmira, New York, but has temporarily removed the lithium-ion battery storage component due to safety and environmental concerns from residents. The company aims to gain town approval by complying with local zoning provisions and educating the community on the benefits of solar and storage projects. Despite some opposition, there is growing support for the project, which promises to provide clean energy and economic benefits to the area. The Town of Elmira Planning Board will discuss the modified proposal on April 7.

• The planned 810-acre Rain Lily solar farm in Granbury, Texas, which also includes a lithium battery storage system, has raised safety and environmental concerns among Hood County residents. Residents worry about potential fire hazards and the impact of hazardous materials from damaged solar panels. EE North America, the company behind the project, assures residents that modern safety mechanisms will be in place and promises economic benefits, including jobs and increased tax revenue. The project is expected to generate 190 megawatts of solar power by 2027. Local officials are considering bills to regulate energy storage and generation more strictly.

• A lawsuit filed by North Fork Wind, LLC and landowners against Knox County, Nebraska over changes to a wind farm zoning ordinance has been mostly dismissed. A district judge allowed only two claims to proceed, related to the Fifth Amendment Takings Clause and state laws on posting zoning ordinances. The lawsuit argued that the zoning changes were made specifically to regulate North Fork Wind and were not properly posted or communicated to affected landowners. The judge dismissed most claims but found the allegations concerning, emphasizing that government bodies have the authority to enact laws in the public interest. Supervisor Kevin Mackeprang was dismissed from the lawsuit due to a conflict of interest.

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