How can policy balance the goals of transition acceleration and justice? Permitting reform, large-scale renewable energy, and host communities in the United States

Implementing energy-transition policies requires building new infrastructure, but the result is often opposition from host communities and associated actors. An important research and policy problem emerges over how to balance two goals that can be in tension: rapidly implementing energy-transition policies and addressing the needs and concerns of local communities, including diverse justice-related issues. This study adopts the perspective that the analysis of this problem benefits from opening the black box of permitting policy reform. The research contributes to the literature on siting conflicts by shifting the focus from explaining conflicts or suggesting targeted policy reforms such as improved engagement to the analysis of the diverse field of policy instruments that can balance the two goals. The study is based on a detailed analysis of eight US states that have approved permitting reform legislation since 2020. Analysis focuses on the features of the enacting legislation and associated statutory code with attention to how the two goals are addressed. The research develops a composite analysis of the states' permit application and decision requirements, and it reviews specific suggestions from local governments for next steps in ongoing policy reform. The study contributes to the energy social science and policy literature by providing a detailed analysis that addresses the theoretical problem of how to balance the goals of transition acceleration and transition justice. The study also offers practical guidance on the design problem of improving permitting policy that can balance the goals. • Permitting reform is more complex than preemption of local authority. • It can balance acceleration goals with local concerns and justice issues. • Detailed analysis shows a wide range of policy instruments. • Second-order opposition to reform is used to identify policy improvements. • Provides a comprehensive, solutions-oriented approach.