Erifili Draklellis

A guide for initial engagement practices in rural communities By Erifili Draklellis, Kristine Chan-Lizardo, Zach Clayton Download the report below With renewable energy projects facing uncertainty from a variety of directions, project developers can build crucial trust and support for their clean energy projects through thoughtful community outreach and initial engagement. Developers that don’t seize this opportunity risk facing significant local opposition that can delay or even cancel projects.

Energy projects can bring a wide range of benefits to communities when they are planned and implemented in close partnership with local stakeholders. The process of alleviating community opposition reduces project risk and increases success for project developers. In addition, ensuring benefits align with community needs increases the likelihood that strong partnerships are formed.

Originally published on RMI.org. By Michael Donatti, Erifili Draklellis, Ana Sophia Mifsud, & Rushad Nanavatty Local governments are making progress on protecting their people and environment. State politicians, sponsored by the fossil-fuel and utility industries, are taking that ability away from them.