Sarah Mills

About Sarah Mills

I conduct research at the intersection of energy policy and land use planning–especially in rural communities. I study how renewable energy development impacts rural communities (positively and negatively), the disparate reactions of landowners to wind and solar projects, and how state and local policies facilitate or hinder renewable energy deployment.

Selected Publications

Bessette, D., Hoen, B., Rand, J., Hoesch, K., White, J., Mills, S., and Nilson, R. (2024). Good fences make good neighbors: Stakeholder perspectives on the local benefits and burdens of large-scale solar energy development in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 108: 103375, Newman, J., Mills, S., and Soderstrom, S. (2023). Training Leaders to Facilitate an Energy Transition: Retrospective Evaluation of Course Design. Sustainability, 15(13): 9910., Bessette, D.L., and Mills, S. (2021). Farmers vs. lakers: Agriculture, amenity, and community in predicting opposition to United States wind energy development Energy Research & Social Science, 72: 101873, Beyea, W. et al (2021). Planning and Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/planning-zoning-for-solar-energy-systems-a-guide-for-michigan-local-governments

Recent Courses Taught

URP 620: Energy Planning