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Guidance for Setting a Renewable Energy Goal

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The document provides a framework for why and how to set a renewable energy goal (Step 1 of the Solar Project Development Pathway) and discusses key considerations for doing so. Topics covered include the benefits of different types of goals, which technologies to include, how to spur local economic growth through the project development process, and how state policies might affect goal-setting decisions. The information provided will help local governments determine their primary motivations for using renewable energy, which will inform the list of viable project options down the road. The document also walks municipalities through the logistics of successful internal and external stakeholder engagement. At the end of the document, there is a four-page worksheet to help municipalities take actionable steps toward setting a renewable energy goal.

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