1st Edition

Solar, Wind and Land Conflicts in Renewable Energy Development

By Troy A. Rule Copyright 2014
    256 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    256 Pages 19 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    The global demand for clean, renewable energy has rapidly expanded in recent years and will likely continue to escalate in the decades to come. Wind and solar energy systems often require large quantities of land and airspace, so their growing presence is generating a diverse array of new and challenging land use conflicts. Wind turbines can create noise, disrupt views or radar systems, and threaten bird populations. Solar energy projects can cause glare effects, impact pristine wilderness areas, and deplete water resources. Developers must successfully navigate through these and myriad other land use conflicts to complete any renewable energy project. Policymakers are increasingly confronted with disputes over these issues and are searching for rules to effectively govern them. Tailoring innovative policies to address the unique conflicts that arise in the context of renewable energy development is crucial to ensuring that the law facilitates rather than impedes the continued growth of this important industry.

    This book describes and analyses the property and land use policy questions that most commonly arise in renewable energy development. Although it focuses primarily on issues that have arisen within the United States, the book’s discussions of international policy differences and critiques of existing approaches make it a valuable resource for anyone exploring these issues in a professional setting anywhere in the world.

    Acknowledgements  Abbreviations and Acronyms  Introduction  1. Economic and Legal Principles in Renewable Energy Development Policy  2. Wind Farms Vs. Neighbors  3. Wind Energy Vs. Wind Energy: Turbine Wake Interference  4. Renewable Energy Vs. Wildlife Conservation  5. Solar Energy Vs. Shade  6. Renewable Energy Vs. Cultural Preservation  7. Renewable Energy Vs. the Electric Grid  8. Overcoming Obstacles in Wind Energy Development: A Case Study  9. The Role of Innovation

    Biography

    Troy A. Rule is Associate Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, USA. Prior to entering law teaching, he was an attorney at K&L Gates LLP in Seattle, Washington, USA, where his practice focused primarily on commercial real estate transactions and wind energy development. 

    "Rule (law, Arizona State Univ.) presents a diversity of relevant issues, the legal aspects of which he examines with a focus on the US. The chapters on wind energy development discuss relationships with neighboring land owners, wind rights, and issues relating to wildlife. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners."CHOICE, R. J. Barthelmie, Cornell University