Since 2018, we have partnered with a renewable energy developer to build public support for renewable energy infrastructure projects across the country. Against a shifting, and increasingly hostile, political landscape for renewable energy at the federal, state, and local levels, the developer needed to build local support for utility-scale wind, solar, battery energy storage, thermal, and transmission projects. Securing approval for each project requires navigating complex local permitting processes at the township, county, and state levels–often amid organized opposition from vocal activists backed by anti-renewable energy interests.

We developed a national organizing strategy grounded in state-based public engagement in the Midwest, Great Plains, and Mid-Atlantic. We combine field organizing, targeted digital outreach, and monitoring community sentiment to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively at the local level to opposition and other risks to project development.

Our approach focuses on building trust with project communities by elevating credible local voices and equipping them with the tools to lead the conversation at the grassroots level. Through this work, we:

• Engage residents directly on the local economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy projects via canvassing, direct outreach, targeted digital ads, and project mailings. 
• Build visible public support at key permitting and community meetings 
• Mobilize advocates to attend and speak at public hearings or provide written comments in support of projects
• Activate supporters to engage elected officials directly to advocate for project approval
• Manage digital platforms to consistently share pro-renewable background messaging while countering dis- and misinformation about projects
• Conduct social listening, media monitoring, and opposition tracking to anticipate and respond proactively to threats against projects
• Maintain a regular presence at local meetings, even when projects are not being discussed, to better understand community priorities, local political dynamics, and potential zoning changes in advance. 

This approach ensures sustained engagement, stronger local relationships, and better positioning for successful project approvals.

Our efforts have translated into consistent, visible public support at critical decision points. Community members show up, speak out, and help shape the narrative in favor of project approval. Since 2020, our efforts have led to the successful permitting, development, and generation of over 2 GW of renewable energy. 

Supporting utility-scale wind, solar, battery storage, thermal, and transmission projects across the country, we have helped permit more than $2 billion in clean energy infrastructure.