Siting Is Risk Mitigation

When most developers talk about “siting,” they reach for contour maps and transmission maps. Important yet incomplete. In reality, the latitude‑and‑longitude decision is the first and biggest de‑risking move you’ll make on an energy project. Get the pin‑drop wrong and every dollar you spend on engineering, legal, and lobbying is a gamble. Get it right and the rest of the project becomes an exercise in execution.

Below is the checklist I use when screening parcels for solar, BESS, and now small modular reactors. Note how little of it is raw geography.

nuclear, smr, advanced nuclear, solar, bess, community engagement, public relations, government

1. The Human Radius

• Who lives within two miles? Retired engineers? Teachers? A vocal anti‑tax group? Each demographic comes with a predictable narrative arc.

• Informal power brokers. The café owner who serves as de‑facto newswire, the township clerk who knows every parcel transfer….map them early.

• Future neighbors. Planned subdivisions can turn a quiet ag buffer into a cul‑de‑sac of opposition in five years.

2. Policy Time‑Machine

• Regional 2050 plans. MPOs and state climate offices publish electrification and land‑use scenarios; your project should look like it was foretold there.

• Zoning rewrites in motion. Is the county quietly drafting an industrial solar setback? Get ahead of it or find another county.

• Grant and incentive horizon. Sites inside Justice40 tracts or hydrogen hubs ride a tailwind of public funding, worth a marginal capex premium.

3. Sentiment Baseline, Not Afterthought

• Noise before the noise. Scrape Facebook groups, local listservs, even Nextdoor chatter. Opposition networks leave digital footprints long before they brand a yard sign.

• Media microclimate. A single county‑weekly can shape narrative for 30,000 people. Know the editor’s angle before your B-roll hits their inbox.

• Legacy wounds. Has a previous wind developer ghosted on road repairs? Did a gas pipeline spill? These memories become cudgels if you ignore them.

4. Infrastructure Plus “Influence‑Structure”

• Grid‑headroom math is half the story. The other half is who controls the queue and how they feel about new baseload.

• Logistics optics. A two‑mile haul road that passes a school may be technically feasible yet politically fatal.

• Redevelopment story. Converting a retired coal plant wins points; bulldozing an oak savanna loses them. Narrative ROI matters.

5. Scenario Scoring

I score parcels on a 1‑to‑5 scale across four vectors:

Anything below 3.5 overall could be a total pass, no matter how “cheap” the land looks on paper.

Takeaway

Siting isn’t a GIS task; it’s risk arbitration. Every overlooked neighbor, every pending ordinance, every soft‑spoken county engineer is a latent cost driver—unless you account for them upfront. Spend the time mapping humans and policy trajectories, and your project pro forma will thank you for the next 40 years.

Ready to pressure‑test your shortlist? Let’s talk.

Rashay Khripunova is the founder of Sown Strategies, helping developers turn first‑of‑their‑kind energy projects into hometown wins.

The Polling Mirage: Why National Support Doesn’t Guarantee Local Success

At Sown Strategies, we’ve seen it too many times: a developer leans on Gallup polls or bipartisan headlines as evidence of smooth sailing—only to be blindsided when real-world support doesn’t show up where it matters.

Yes, national surveys often show broad favorability for certain technologies. But that favorability rarely translates into deep understanding, local advocacy, or meaningful protection against opposition. Public opinion at 30,000 feet doesn’t prevent five organized residents from filing intervenor status, flooding a township meeting, or grinding a permit to a halt.

Polling is not advocacy. Awareness is not alignment. And bipartisan “support” is not the same as a coalition that will fight for you when it counts.

Real support takes time. It takes groundwork. And it takes someone who knows how to read a room, anticipate objections, and neutralize them before they metastasize. Because when it comes to public affairs, you can’t wait for a crisis to find your strategy—you need one before the first hearing notice is filed.

You need trusted relationships with local officials before they’re forced to take a public stance. You need neighbors who understand your project before they’re misled. You need trained messengers before a commissioner gets cornered in a parking lot with talking points they can’t counter.

And let’s be honest: the only kind of reactor you want showing up at a public meeting is powered by SMR technology.

Sown Strategies specializes in high-stakes development environments where perception, politics, and process are all in motion. We help you stay ahead—quietly, surgically, and long before the headlines.

Because by the time there’s a problem, it’s already too late to improvise.

Community First: The Case for Early Investment in Campaign Engagement

Too often, community engagement and campaign strategy are treated as box-checking exercises—activated only when a project becomes public or when opposition starts to surface. At Sown Strategies, we believe engagement belongs at the front of the process, not the tail end.

Early investment in engagement—whether grassroots, grasstops, digital, or institutional—isn’t just about doing the right thing. It’s a form of due diligence. When done well, it primes the landscape, builds goodwill, and helps shape an environment where new ideas, technologies, or infrastructure can land with credibility and care.

And it doesn’t always need a banner. In fact, some of the most effective early campaigns are deliberately quiet. They’re unbranded listening tours, stakeholder meetings, or low-profile online conversations that surface concerns, build trust, and introduce concepts before anything hits the front page or the permit docket.

Why does early engagement matter?

1. It prevents costly delays and surprises. Engaging early helps you identify potential roadblocks—from zoning and permitting issues to community pushback—before they become expensive problems. A few weeks of early listening can save months of crisis response.

2. It builds trust while things are still fluid. Engaging early means showing up before opinions harden. It gives you space to hear real concerns, not just reactions, and respond with substance rather than spin.

3. It allows you to be surgical—not splashy. Early work lets you map the terrain, identify key audiences, and test messages quietly. It’s not about making noise—it’s about making sure the right people are listening, and the right tone is set.

4. It opens the door to partnership, not just permission. When stakeholders are engaged from the outset, they don’t just approve your project—they help shape it. That sense of shared purpose strengthens legitimacy and resilience.

5. It lays the groundwork for smoother public rollout. By the time you go public, the groundwork is in place. Allies are pre-briefed, questions are anticipated, and the story isn’t starting cold.

Early engagement is more than a communications tactic—it’s a smart investment in reducing risk, protecting timelines, and creating a path for sustainable success.. It’s a quiet, confident form of leadership—and when it begins early, it can be transformative.

County Fairs - Authentic Engagement Means Knowing the Culture of Agriculture

In the heart of rural Midwest communities, one cannot underestimate the significance of county fairs. Beyond the kaleidoscopic whirl of Ferris wheels and the tempting aroma of funnel cakes lies a socio-cultural tapestry that intertwines tradition, community bonds, and agricultural heritage. As you begin to get to know your project community, you will want to hone in on the layers of importance embedded in these seemingly simple gatherings. And the time to reach out to your county fair boards is now as planning for the next fair begins as the last one ends.

County fairs serve as more than just seasonal entertainment; they are dynamic expressions of communal identity. Rooted in the agrarian fabric of the Midwest, these events celebrate the very essence of rural life. They provide a platform for local farmers to showcase their hard work, fostering a sense of pride and interconnectedness within the community. The judging of livestock, the display of meticulously grown crops, and the competitions that unfold beneath the summer sun are not merely contests but narratives of dedication and resilience.

Moreover, county fairs act as communal theaters where cultural traditions are performed and passed down through generations. From 4-H exhibits to pie-baking contests, these events encapsulate a living history, preserving and transmitting the skills and values that define rural life. In the midst of carnival rides and games, one can discern an educational undercurrent, a subtle but vital force shaping the collective consciousness of these communities.

In essence, county fairs are living, breathing textbooks, offering valuable insights into the cultural richness and community vitality that define these agricultural communities. What better way to become fully immersed and participate meaningfully than at the county fair?

How to get involved:

• Buy at the Livestock Sale - Supporting the county fair's livestock sale makes a positive impression, whether in the early stages or actively permitting your project. It celebrates the future of farming, benefiting the next generation, and welcomes businesses and farming families to contribute to the community. Strategic bidding on the kids or grandkids of target landowners, signed landowners, or project neighbors adds a personal touch. Purchasing breed champions may even land you in the local paper alongside your 4H-ers, or consider "add-ons" to extend your budget to more kids. While the livestock sale might seem challenging, you can seek guidance from a friendly landowner or local supporter for orientation. Stay tuned for additional tips on navigating livestock sales as we explore county fairs further next spring.

• Attend in Branding - Mark your calendar to attend the local fair. The most popular days are the weekend, popular livestock show days and, of course, sale day. Make sure you wear something branded and pull out those boots! Check out the local programming (often a schedule is available online) for any events that make peak your interest such as appearance of a county commissioner or the livestock show where your target landowner’s grandson is showing.

• Sponsorships - Early Q1 provides an ideal window to connect with the local fair board about sponsorship opportunities. Engaging with them during this time allows for valuable guidance on how to be most impactful. Since certain businesses consistently claim the same sponsorship each year, it's essential to complement rather than compete when supporting both the fair and 4H initiatives.

• Fair Contests - Some fairs host contests open to farm families, elected officials, and businesses, providing an excellent opportunity to enhance visibility and engage authentically. A case in point is the Morrow County, Ohio Fair, which organized a round hay bale decorating contest. The creatively adorned bales were showcased across the fairgrounds, serving as a unique platform for community education and participation.

• Vendor Booth - Not for the faint of heart or the resource-light, obtaining a vendor booth at the fair presents a priceless opportunity. It allows you to leave a lasting impression on elected officials as they stroll the fairgrounds, engage with fellow vendors, such as local beekeepers or representatives of service agencies that may be tied to project tax benefits, and connect with the public. Most importantly, it serves as a platform to identify supporters. Distribute branded swag, candy, and project information to attract and engage attendees. You'll be pleasantly surprised by the number of supportive individuals approaching. Seize this moment to collect their contact information, perhaps through a sign-in sheet, and extend invitations for coffee or upcoming events.

Benefits:

• Make a Good Impression - Engaging at the fair offers diverse opportunities for involvement, each providing valuable PR and the opportunity to have a positive experience. Whether volunteering with your project logo, sponsoring the demolition derby, or being acknowledged as a buyer at the livestock sale, having your brand visible contributes positively to community engagement.

• Datapoints - As you navigate the fair, keep your eyes peeled for the community's story. Check out those displays about local heritage, spot the businesses in the mix, wave hello to the big farming families, notice the lively livestock groups, and don't forget to savor the signature fair food – Cattlemen's Association’s ribeye sandwiches are my personal favorite! Approach the fair like you're stepping into a vibrant classroom, eager to learn and soak in all the local flavor.

• Critical Stakeholder Engagement Opportunities - Since the fair serves as the yearly hub for the agricultural community, rest assured that crucial stakeholders will be present. A brief greeting or introduction may seem small, but it yields the intangible advantage of making a positive impression. Expect familiar faces such as state and congressional representatives, local elected officials (township trustees and county commissioners), and other influential figures like Farm Bureau leaders, engaged business owners, respected farming families, and local agencies potentially linked to tax benefits for your project. Your participation won't go unnoticed by these key players.

In wrapping up, your involvement at the fair won't slip under the radar. While it might feel like stretching the budget or juggling man-hours, the returns are worth it and could distinguish you from other developers in the community. Stay tuned for "County Fairs: Part 2" in the Spring and please reach out if you need further assistance in navigating your county fair!