When most people think about renewable energy, they believe in big, global terms: climate goals, federal tax credits, or massive projects powering entire regions. But reality is much more personal. Renewable energy development doesn’t happen in Washington, D.C. or Wall Street boardrooms – it happens in towns, villages, and counties where people live, work, and raise families. That’s why the most successful projects are the ones that recognize renewable energy is community driven.
At its core, every solar farm, battery energy storage system, or wind project is anchored in the unique fabric of a local market. And that means success hinges on working with people who understand the nuances of that community and its rules, its landscape, and its values.
Developers operating in multiple states quickly discover just how different markets can be. One town may welcome a solar farm with open arms, while the next town over might impose a moratorium. Wetland rules, zoning laws, setback requirements, and utility interconnection standards vary not just from state to state, but sometimes from county to county.
This patchwork makes renewable energy a business where market familiarity is not optional; it’s the difference between moving quickly to site control and spinning your wheels for months or even years.
Here’s the key: being effective in renewable energy doesn’t mean you have to be “the local expert” everywhere. It means knowing how to work within the local relationship framework and identifying the right partners, engaging the right professionals, and understanding the right process and approach for each market.
At onCORE, we don’t claim to be rooted in every town across the country. What we do bring is a local approach to a national scale – through a network of regional/local contacts, by leveraging industry-leading technology and through an emphasis on fostering relationships. Our development and origination experience spans three decades and we know who the players are and what the playbook is to get sites under contract and built. Our strength is to build genuine relationships and move swiftly to site control while helping clients tap into the expertise that makes projects viable in each unique community.
National policies and global climate goals will always shape renewable energy. But at the end of the day, almost every project is approved or denied at the community level. Success in this industry doesn’t just come from capital, technology, or even land. It comes from knowing how to combine national experience with regional familiarity and strong relationships.
For developers and IPPs, the takeaway is simple: partner with companies that can help you navigate new markets by knowing the process, the players, and the partnerships required to succeed. Renewable energy may be a global solution, but it will always be community driven.
Joe Tassone Jr. is the founder and a principal of onCORE Origination with 30 years of project development experience and an expert in renewable energy development. Visit www.oncoreorig.com for more information.