The energy zoning database project began in 2019 with support from Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to catalog renewable energy regulations across Michigan municipalities. In 2021, with a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office, the project expanded to include five additional Great Lakes states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

This database is part of a broader initiative to explore how rural communities in the Great Lakes region are preparing for solar photovoltaic (PV) development.

Data was gathered through three steps: assessing zoning jurisdiction, collecting ordinances, and analyzing relevant policies. Local zoning authority was identified using public records, contacting municipalities, and consulting expert input. Zoning ordinances were gathered from municipal websites, services like Municode, or directly from localities when offline access was needed. Collected ordinances were analyzed for references to solar and wind energy, focusing on whether they pertained to Principal or Accessory Use siting. The database records 17 characteristics relevant to solar zoning but does not assess individual ordinance stringency.

Access the database at energyzoning.org.