GO-Biz Clean Energy Permitting Initiative
Improved permitting processes is one element that can help reduce barriers to deployment of renewable projects. In late 2024, GO-Biz kicked off the clean energy permitting initiative to assess challenges and barriers faced by local jurisdictions for permitting large scale energy projects and develop a toolkit of resources for process improvements. The final report and toolkit will include best practices and other resources that will help to increase transparency and alignment of local jurisdiction permitting processes to reduce barriers for the deployment of energy projects.
Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit Development
GO-Biz is currently in the final stages of development on the Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit. The team spent several months surveying, interviewing, conducting focus groups, and gathering public feedback to understand challenges and pain points of the local permitting process for large-scale clean energy projects as well as opportunities for improvement.
In October 2025, GO-Biz published draft documents for the Playbook and Toolkit, which are viewable by clicking the links below. The deadline for submitting comments on these draft documents closed November 21, 2025, and the team is now working on final materials to be released in the coming weeks.
If you have questions on the materials to be included in the final Playbook and Toolkit, or regarding the Permitting Initiative in general, please contact energyunit@gobiz.ca.gov.
Draft Playbook
Draft Toolkit
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Fact Sheet
- Onshore Wind Fact Sheet
- Utility Scale Solar Fact Sheet
- Clean Energy Permitting Check List
- Aligning Community Interests with Clean Energy Project Development
- Tribal Considerations
- BESS Model Ordinance and Guidance
- Onshore Wind Model Ordinance and Guidance
- Utility Scale Solar Model Ordinance and Guidance
Webinar 5: Walkthrough of the Draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit
GO-Biz hosted a webinar on October 22, 2025 to walkthrough the draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit documents. Click below to view the recording and presentation slides.
To view past webinars, see the section below on Webinars and Events.
Initiative Timeline
Webinars and Events
GO-Biz is conducting a series of webinars and workshops as part of the stakeholder outreach for the permitting initiative. Sign up for updates on the permitting initiative and upcoming events using the button at the bottom of this page to stay up to date. Information and materials on the webinar series is as follows:
Webinar 1: Battery Energy Storage System Safety and Best Practices
A webinar was held on March 26, 2025, to bring together state and local permitting authorities as well as industry experts to discuss challenges, lessons learned, and best practices in permitting battery energy storage systems (BESS) projects. The webinar also touched on the upcoming work within the Clean Energy Permitting Initiative.
March 2025 Webinar Recording
Presentation Slides
Speaker Bios
Webinar 2: GO-Biz Clean Energy Permitting Initiative Overview
As part of our Clean Energy Permitting Initiative, this webinar in June 2025 walked through early developments of a permitting guidebook and toolkit to support local authorities. This was the first in a series of five webinars, where we are highlighting key topics from the toolkit and guidebook such as solar, wind, and BESS permitting.
June 25 Webinar Recording
Presentation Slides
Webinar 3: Aligning Community Interests with Clean Energy Project Development
This webinar was held on September 10th, 2025, and showcased the Clean Energy Permitting Playbook’s guide for navigating community benefits.
Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording
Webinar 4: Supporting Land Use Permitting Processes: A Guide to Developing Clean Energy Ordinances
This webinar was held on September 17th, 2025 and showcased draft guides to developing clean energy ordinances.
Presentation Slides
Webinar Recording
Webinar 5: Draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit – Walkthrough
GO-Biz hosted this webinar on October 22, 2025 to walkthrough the draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit documents.
