Energy development is the largest driver of land-use and land-cover change in the United States. Today, one of the leading forms of this new development is large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants. This new issue brief is intended to educate local governments and community stakeholders interested in supporting solar development. Topics covered include: 1. Key challenges posed by storm water runoff and mitigation measures that can be incorporated into project development processes. 2. Vegetation Management concepts and their tactical application, including an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) strategy. Together, these strategies can help communities and local governments develop policies and guidelines on large-scale solar that can realize both environmental and economic benefits.
