Indiana & Armstrong County, PA
Engagement Strategy
Armstrong County has a bare-bones permitting regime, with permitting at a municipal level contracted to a third party planning consultant, Bureau Veritas. Indiana County municipalities have delegated permitting authority to Indiana County and have a more traditional process.
Solar is contemplated in both counties in planning documents, however there are no specific ordinances or histories of solar permit applications.
While the local economy remains relatively healthy in the face of the general struggles facing nearly all communicates, both counties are experiencing population declines and are likely to be sensitive to losses in fossil fuel production-related jobs. The largest employer in the project vicinity is Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The project area contains a Little League field, two campgrounds, some roadside attractions and areas that are forested.
INITIAL STRATEGIC ANALYSIS:
Following is our BAM (Brave, Alert, Motivated) analysis. This tool helps focus our situational awareness on the most important, actionable factors.
Solar is contemplated in both counties in planning documents, however there are no specific ordinances or histories of solar permit applications.
While the local economy remains relatively healthy in the face of the general struggles facing nearly all communicates, both counties are experiencing population declines and are likely to be sensitive to losses in fossil fuel production-related jobs. The largest employer in the project vicinity is Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The project area contains a Little League field, two campgrounds, some roadside attractions and areas that are forested.
INITIAL STRATEGIC ANALYSIS:
Following is our BAM (Brave, Alert, Motivated) analysis. This tool helps focus our situational awareness on the most important, actionable factors.
Brave - Why do we have confidence in success?
- Strong anchor landowners. An organized landowner group creates a bulwark against opposition and delay and helps frame the approval in terms of private property rights.
- County and state renewable energy policies. We answer a need that has been previously identified as a policy goal.
- Energy generation is an existing use in the area. This is less greenfield development and more a recycling of existing critical energy infrastructure.
Alert - What threats or misperceptions do we need to overcome?
- A potential opposition coalition. Anti-Green New Deal Republicans, frustrated fossil fuel industry workers, active unions and hyper-local interests (e.g. campground and recreational users) come together to frustrate the permitting process.
- Incongruous county processes. Inter-jurisdictional conflict is a risk, especially with the relative lack of a planning process in Armstrong County.
- Delay. Simmering opposition combines with a lack of a consistent, specific permitting criteria for solar, leading to calls for ordinances and more detailed planning prior to moving ahead with an individual project.
Motivated - Which opportunities excite us?
- Build support early with key stakeholders. With the anchor landowner as a visible face, win the support of local allies in both counties.
- Work actively with lead planners in each county. Describe the Vesper approach to sensitive siting and best practices to provide assurances that the existing permitting regime and county planning professionals are more than equipped.
- Create a strong community of support. Tap-in to the relatively large populations to find the low hanging fruit of supporters, including at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Goal: Develop and nurture key relationships with landowners and county officials.
- With an anchor landowner in place, as well as a few others, the opportunity is ripe to turn them into vocal advocates for the project. We will present them with talking points and answer any questions they may have in order to educate them about the project and its benefits, while also giving them the confidence to become vocal supporters in the community.
- Concurrently, reach out to both counties (Commissioners, Planning Commissioners and other county officials) for one-on-one meetings to introduce the project, explain benefits and get a temperature on general sentiment amongst those in positions of power.
*See the Community Assessment tab for detailed information on county electeds and other officials.
At this early phase of the project, it is important to communicate that Vesper is committed to being a good neighbor and a good-faith partner in both counties. Similar to other projects at this phase, we need to communicate how we can contribute to local economic development, expand the local tax base for schools and public services, help retain agricultural land for the future, diversify farmer income streams, and create long-term partnerships. As we come out of Phase I, we should have a better understanding of general sentiment, roadblocks we could face, and have a plan to build out a broader community network of support.
Goal: Use what we learned in Phase I as we reach out to the broader community, building a coalition of influential supporters and communicating how the project will benefit those in both counties.
The next stage of our outreach should prioritize any connections the initial group of stakeholders recommends. This is where we start to build longer-lasting, local relationships that demonstrate its long-term commitment to the area and its institutions, and its values, culminating in a group of local leaders who will be vocal supporters of the project.
The next stage of our outreach should prioritize any connections the initial group of stakeholders recommends. This is where we start to build longer-lasting, local relationships that demonstrate its long-term commitment to the area and its institutions, and its values, culminating in a group of local leaders who will be vocal supporters of the project.
- Landowners are key. Our landowners, and their family and friends, can be some of our best advocates. We will utilize those relationships we’ve developed in Phase I to help us with broader community outreach and support throughout the process. Most important is to keep them updated on progress and changes in the project.
- Reach out to the broader community. Using our research and local connections, we’ll build out our list of other local groups who are likely to support the project and its benefits. Top of the list should be local schools, economic development groups, and the nearby university.
• Local K-12 schools - Engage the school district in both counties. Meet with superintendents and boards to see how we can partner with them, or how we can be of benefit.
• Local university - Indiana University of Pennsylvania (located in Indiana County) is a prime place to find support for renewable energy projects. While there doesn't appear to be a program that exists relating to renewable energy projects, there is plenty of opportunity there. College student activists can be some of our most vocal supporters.
• Economic development - Work with local Chambers of Commerce, as well as both counties’ Economic Development departments, to educate them on project economic benefits and build a base of support there.
• Non-profits, energy and religious organizations - Continue to expand our outreach to leaders in other areas, tailoring messaging as appropriate to each group. - Launch a coordinated digital and earned media campaign. With almost 150,00 residents between both counties, the area is ripe for a digital campaign, bolstered even further by the fact that there is a university in the area. Content should be aimed at driving the positive narrative about how solar energy is important for economic development in the region and will create jobs and expand the tax base, as well as Vesper being a proactive, good neighbor.
Summary
Our ultimate goal is project approval in a timely manner in both counties. Currently the atmosphere is conducive for project approval, and we need to keep it that way. With a network of local leaders touting the benefits of the project, landowners who are actively reaching out to friends and neighbors in support, and county elected and officials who have been educated about the project and kept up to date, a smooth approval process is within reach. But we need to keep an eye on community sentiment and any hints of organized opposition, and be ready to inoculate if necessary. Using social and traditional media to bolster this network will amplify that support as we go through the permitting process.
