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.
Public Feedback for the Playbook and Toolkit
GO-Biz looks forward to hearing your comments on the resources that will be included in the final Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit. The team spent several months surveying, interviewing, and conducting focus groups to understand challenges and pain points of the local permitting process for large-scale clean energy projects as well as opportunities for improvement. Based on input and feedback from stakeholders, we have developed draft resources to assist with permitting processes.
Draft Documents – Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit
Below are the draft documents of the Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit. Click on each resource to download and review.
Playbook
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
Submitting Comments
GO-Biz is accepting comments to the above draft documents through November 21, 2025. For those who would like to provide feedback to be considered before publishing the final Playbook and Toolkit:
- Please send your comments to energyunit@gobiz.ca.gov no later than November 21, 2025.
- Include your name, organization, contact information, and which section of the Playbook and Toolkit your comments are directed to.
Webinar 5: Walkthrough of the Draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit
GO-Biz will be hosting a final webinar on October 22, 2025 from 12pm-1:30pm to take a walkthrough of the draft Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit documents. Click below to register!
For further questions on submitting feedback or about the initiative in general, please reach out to energyunit@gobiz.ca.gov.
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
This webinar will be held on October 22nd, 2025, from 12:00pm – 1:30pm and will walkthrough the full draft of the Clean Energy Permitting Playbook and Toolkit in its entirety for the first time.
