Sunbeam Valley | Trimble County, KY

Engagement Strategy

The following is our strategic analysis based on the community assessment for navigating approval for a solar facility in Trimble County, Kentucky.

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BAM Analysis

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Brave. The strengths that give us confidence to move forward.

1. Economic Development. Economic development is a key component of the county’s strategic plan and a stated priority of local officials.

2. Property rights-friendly permitting regime. The county’s permitting is streamlined and straightforward, generally geared towards approvals.

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3. Geography. This part of the county has very few residents and mostly consists of open space and farmland, which should limit any local opposition.

Alert. The dangers that we must overcome or avoid.

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1. NIMBYism. Residents might feel that their county is being targeted as a dumping ground for undesirable projects and needs to review its zoning requirements.

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2. Lack of jobs. The county prizes its history as an agricultural center for the region and doesn’t want to dedicate land to low employment industrial activities.

3. Politics. In a staunchly republican county like Trimble there could be significant opposition to anything considered “green” and State Representative Rabourn has questioned solar as a threat to coal generation.

Motivated. The opportunities that we should pursue for success.

1. Establish local partnerships. In such a small, tight knit community, a little will go a long way and we should start with local schools.

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2. Hire locally. For supplies and construction in particular, find local businesses to support and establish a local presence.

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3. Property rights. Make our landowners into advocates for solar as the highest and best economic use of the land.

Message Plan

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This project will provide a meaningful boost to the local economy while diversifying local energy sources in a region whose industrial base has decreased significantly in recent decades. Vesper looks forward to working with local officials to ensure that everyone in the county benefits, from employment opportunities and tax revenue, to strong local partnerships.

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Tactical Approach

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Phase 1

Key Contacts. Identify and cultivate key contacts in the county government. Reach out to the judge executive, fiscal board and planning and zoning department to introduce the project and the potential benefits.

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Stakeholder Engagement. After initial conversations, a clearer picture of the landscape of support will develop. Identify supporters and provide a deeper understanding of the regional benefits this facility will provide. Maintain regular contact with those who are sympathetic to the proposal and build them into allies who will spread the message. While not particularly active at present, the regional economic development organizations like the Trimble County Chamber of Commerce and the Kentucky I-71 Economic Development Alliance could provide key support and potential inroads with elected officials.

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Phase 2

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Digital. After securing initial support from individuals in the county government, initiate a targeted campaign that promotes the economic benefits of the proposed facility. Using a website and search words, create content that links the ideas of job creation and regional economic success to the proposed solar facility.

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Traditional PR. Pay close attention to local media and sentiment in order to better tailor messaging to counteract any opposition that might arise. Organize community meetings to introduce the idea to residents in a friendly, open manner. Generate support by providing examples of other counties whose tax bases have increased with similar investments, providing more funding for local services, healthcare, and education. Elicit feedback about their questions or concerns and provide positive, forward-looking answers.

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Continued Stakeholder Engagement. Activate these networks of support for planning commission meetings and other regulatory approvals. Coordinate with these individuals or groups to contact local officials and voice their support for the project.

Goal: Introduce ourselves to key thought leaders and decision makers.

We will start our outreach with Supervisor Desmond's Chief of Staff: Vanessa McCarthy-Olmstead. Our project is in Supervisor Desmond's district, so early contact with his office will be key. Vesper should introduce themselves, the project and its benefits, and get a download from his Chief of Staff on what we need to know about Desmond and his district as we work through the permitting process.
At the same time, Vesper should begin developing a relationship with the Sacramento County Planning Director. This will be a key relationship as we navigate the permitting process, and having the planning department on our side throughout will be an important pice of getting through the process smoothly and efficiently.

Lastly, we should begin building relationships with respected and knowledgeable thought leaders in the county. This includes the County Economic Development Director and the president of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce, which is the closest chamber to the project. Our goal here is to foster good relationships, get their take on the community, and get intel on Board of Supervisors. We also want to make sure we are talking about the benefits that this project will bring.

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Goal: Use what we learned in Phase I as we reach out to the broader community, prioritizing any connections the initial group of stakeholders recommends. We will build relationships, garner positive press, and educate the community on the project and its benefits.

Lean on economic development. Leverage our relationships we've built with thought leaders in the community to educate others in their organizations on project economic benefits and build a base of support there.
Non-profits, schools, 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. Content should be aimed at driving the positive narrative about how solar energy is important for economic development in the region, as well as Vesper being a proactive, good neighbor.