Researchers expect ‘biggest year yet’ for energy siting bills
Researchers anticipate 2027 will be a record year for state-level energy siting legislation, driven significantly by the rapid growth of data centers and concerns about energy affordability. An analysis of 2026 bills showed a trend toward restrictive renewable energy policies, though most enacted bills were permissive. Advocates in states like Iowa are expected to focus on defending existing energy project preemption rights.
Researchers involved with the Siting Solutions Project report predict that 2027 will see unprecedented legislative activity surrounding energy siting bills at the state level. This surge is primarily attributed to the continued expansion of data centers across the U.S. and ongoing public concerns regarding energy affordability.
The Siting Solutions Project, a nonpartisan initiative, analyzed over 200 renewable energy siting bills introduced during the 2026 legislative sessions. Their findings indicate that 43% of these bills were restrictive towards renewable energy infrastructure, while 36% aimed to facilitate deployment. Despite a greater number of restrictive proposals, only two such bills were enacted, contrasting with a larger proportion of permissive bills that became law. Nelson Falkenburg, a policy manager with Clean Tomorrow and a report author, suggested that many restrictive bills might have been political messaging, failing to advance beyond committee.
Specific examples of enacted legislation include Utah's bill removing incentives for solar on agricultural land and implementing a restrictive approach to decommissioning, and Kentucky's new law creating punitive siting standards for renewable energy in unzoned counties. Conversely, Alabama passed a law to ease the conversion of oil and gas wells into renewable energy sites. States like Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona, Mississippi, Alabama, and New York were noted for predominantly restrictive proposals, including de facto moratoriums, while others like Washington, Oregon, California, Maine, Virginia, and New Jersey leaned permissive.
In Iowa, seven bills related to energy siting were tracked in 2026, with none enacted. Researchers anticipate Iowa renewable energy advocates will shift their focus in 2027 to defending the Iowa Utilities Commission's (IUC) authority to preempt local ordinances, following an IUC decision in Cerro Gordo County that approved a solar project despite a local ban. The report highlights that data center buildout and rising electricity costs will continue to drive the discourse around energy siting policy nationwide.