Green building and clean energy: Key considerations for municipalities during the planning process

Each day, it becomes more and more clear how important it is for municipalities to embrace green building and clean energy projects. Once thought of as novelties, elements like solar power and renewable building materials are now all but essential. They advance environmental sustainability and represent new opportunities for economic growth. These strategies also have the potential to create positive long-term outcomes. Indeed, the World Bank notes, “A green investment strategy will create local jobs, reduce the burden on utilities and improve government operating budgets.”

Every stage of your green building and clean energy project is important, but establishing a strong foundation starts with the planning process. When done correctly, municipalities can set their projects up to reap all the rewards listed above.

Below, find key considerations municipalities of all sizes should consider when they embark on the planning process:

Broadcast the benefits. For a municipal project of any type to succeed—green, clean or something else entirely—it’s essential to build public support. And while the benefits of green building and clean energy are numerous, not all residents may be familiar with them. For this reason, it’s essential for municipalities to ensure the benefits of the project are transparent from the very start. Hold forums, town halls and other events that explain how renewable energy translates into lower utility bills. Dispel apprehensions that clean energy results in job loss. (Indeed, the opposite is true—renewable energy initiatives can create jobs.) And of course, highlight the health benefits: The EPA notes that these efforts can reduce “incidences of premature death, asthma attacks, and respiratory and heart disease.”

Know the full scope of options. It can be difficult to keep up with all the green and clean opportunities out there. The field entails far more than just solar panels or LEED certifications, and it continues to expand constantly. For example, offshore wind is a growing industry and a competitor to fossil fuels—just look to New York City. There are currently five major offshore wind projects in development within Gotham, putting it on track to be the largest offshore wind site in the nation. These projects have secured nearly $200 million in investments, are expected to create thousands of new jobs, and present significant opportunities to actively set historically disadvantaged community members on solid career paths, all while advancing cleaner, healthier energy production.

Work with your neighbors. Undertaking these initiatives—especially clean energy efforts—can seem daunting. But municipalities, particularly smaller ones, don’t have to undertake this effort in isolation. Power grids rarely stop at town lines—they’re built as regional infrastructure, and thus should be approached as such. Cities and towns can pool resources to make these projects more affordable… or seek out private partners.

Take a bespoke approach. It’s important for municipalities to understand that these initiatives should be customized for their specific town or city. While the broad technology and processes can translate across borders, each municipality will ultimately need a unique plan. What works in sunny Orlando, Fla., likely won’t work in cloudy Seattle. Municipal leaders can take stock of their geography, their budget, and their community’s needs—and then plan accordingly.

We know that green building and clean energy initiatives are the future, but for municipalities of all sizes to adopt these kinds of projects, they need expertise and tools to undertake these new endeavors. According to the 2021 World Green Building Trends study, well over half of construction firms expect that over one third of their projects will be green buildings in 2024—that’s an increase of 18 percent from just three years ago. As your municipality enters this new era, ensure you have a solid grasp of the planning processes and strategies you need to succeed.

Celeste Frye, AICP is co-founder and CEO of Public Works Partners LLC, a WBE/DBE/SBE certified planning and consulting firm specializing in multi-stakeholder initiatives and building strong connections across the government, nonprofit and private sectors. For more information, visit www.publicworkspartners.com.