Challenge
A leading infrastructure investor was evaluating whether to invest in a portfolio of utility-scale solar projects proposed by a development partner across several jurisdictions. The fund needed to quickly understand permitting and political risk before committing capital.
What Clara Did
Clara analyzed more than 1,500 documents across the relevant cities and counties, including zoning and comprehensive plans, solar and energy use rules, agricultural and land protection policies, staff reports, prior solar and storage applications, Planning Commission and City Council agendas and minutes, and public comments.
Key insights delivered
- Identified which projects sat on zoning and approval pathways that had historically worked in those jurisdictions
- Flagged the specific land use, siting and community issues that had derailed similar solar projects in the past
- Mapped which planning commissioners and council members had supported or opposed comparable energy developments
Outcome
- Cut 2 - 3 days from the time between first look and IC by removing manual zoning and precedent research
- Avoided $10k+ dollars in legal and consulting spend on projects that had no viable approval path
- Focused capital on the subset of sites with a documented, precedent-backed path to permit
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