Strategies to Streamline BESS Permitting
1. Early Due Diligence Studies
- Conduct Early Assessments: Gather and assemble early due-diligence studies, including Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments, wetland delineations, and cultural resource studies. These can highlight environmental concerns and necessary design criteria early on.
- Independent Verification: Ensure that the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) team independently verifies the findings of these reports to maintain accuracy and reliability.
2. Understand the Project Site
- Site Selection: Carefully assess the project site, considering whether it is located in a flood plain, which can significantly impact the permitting process and civil design requirements.
- Local Regulations: Familiarize yourself with local, county, and state erosion control requirements to ensure compliance and accurate cost estimation.
3. Identify All Ancillary Project Elements
- Complete Project Scope: Understand and communicate all components of the BESS project to the permitting team. This includes switchyards and generation tie lines, which are common additions and can introduce complexities if not well-planned.
4. Co-location with Renewable Energy Sources
- Co-location Benefits: Consider co-locating BESS facilities with renewable energy sources like solar or wind farms, as this can streamline the permitting process by leveraging existing infrastructure and approvals.
5. Streamlined Local Regulations and Forms
- Standardized Requirements: Encourage local jurisdictions to provide specific, replicable lists of requirements to reduce administrative delays and ensure clarity throughout the process.
6. Best Practices for Environmental Permitting
- Technology Utilization: Leverage technological advancements to enhance and streamline the environmental permitting process, ensuring compliance with regulations while speeding up the development timeline.
7. Regulatory Exemptions
- Applicable Exemptions: Where applicable, utilize regulatory exemptions to avoid more stringent permitting requirements. For example, in California, projects classified as distribution facilities may avoid certain environmental reviews.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-can-developers-streamline-the-permitting-process-for-bess-projects/
