"Community Consent, Land Rights Key to Growth of Renewables, Says Equitable Origin", 28 Jan 2016

Conflicts over land rights and consultation with local communities present mounting risks to the global expansion of renewable energy, the nonprofit organization Equitable Origin (EO) announced…The announcement accompanied the organization’s release of a case study on wind development in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, which is fraught with resistance from local and indigenous communities…Community protest and wind energy project delays in Oaxaca represent a broader trend, explained EO’s Chief Executive Officer Soledad Mills, “Because most utility-scale renewable energy projects require vast areas of land, they carry a high likelihood of causing conflicts over land rights…in addition to other local-level social and environmental impacts…”…“The risks…are manageable, but if ignored, they could bring about a slowdown in renewable development at a time when the world needs it most…”…“Our recommendations…for more inclusive, complete, and culturally sensitive engagement efforts can lead to better outcomes for communities and more efficient project implementation...”…