Building Community Trust in Clean Energy with Hilary Clark

In this episode, James talks with Hilary Clark, Senior Director of Social Licensing at the American Clean Power Association (ACP). With over two decades in permitting and regulatory affairs, Hilary brings deep expertise on how clean energy developers can effectively engage communities and navigate the complex siting landscape in the U.S.

They discuss the evolving challenges in local and state-level permitting for wind, solar, and battery projects. Hilary explains the rise of moratoria and bans, the importance of community trust, and how ACP supports developers through advocacy, policy coordination, and digital tools. The conversation also covers the role of automation in feasibility analysis and the limits of technology in community engagement.

• The rise of permitting barriers like local moratoria and zoning bans
• The importance of social license and long-term community relationships
• How ACP leverages advocacy, policy expertise, and AI tools to support members
• Why the human element remains critical despite digital innovation

This episode offers an essential look at the on-the-ground work required to accelerate clean energy deployment across the country.

Paces helps developers find and evaluate the sites most suitable for renewable development. Interested in a call with James, CEO @ Paces?