ABSTRACT
Thousands of regions, cities, and towns around the world have adopted policies and targets to promote renewable energy (RE). Motivations include reducing GHG emissions, developing local skilled industry and creating local jobs, reducing energy demand, achieving security of supply and possibly independence from the national grid, and becoming more resilient to climate change (Renew ‐ able Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) 2014). The benefits can be large, but environmental and social problems from RE develop ment are also a possibility. Life cycle analysis and social impact analysis can help regional and local planners realize the many benefits of RE, while reducing risks.
