The US DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office announced this Solar Energy with Benefits for Animals and Ecosystems 2 (SolWEB2) Funding Opportunity Noticewhich will award up to $11 million to improve the compatibility of large-scale solar energy facilities (LSS) with wildlife and agriculture.
The funding is intended to support research and development, technical assistance and stakeholder engagement activities.
According to the DOE, more than 5,000 LSS facilities have opened in the United States over the past decade and growth is expected to continue over the next decade.
Such numbers might suggest that solar energy has strong support, but developers cite public opposition as a major challenge. Growth may be disappointing habitats for wildlife And agricultural areasand can cause land use problems and public opposition. The resistance comes in many forms, from neighbors living near proposed large-scale installations, to organized groups and municipal governments passing legislation banning utility-scale projects.
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