An important under-explored issue within energy systems literature is understanding the challenges that arise when two energy and environment goals conflict with one another. In particular, there is a desire to install more large-scale renewable energy generation resources to decarbonize the electricity sector, yet the siting of these power sources is increasingly occurring on sensitive and vulnerable lands that often serve as critical habitats for endangered species. This grant led by Rebecca Hernandez at the University of California, Davis will explore the challenges that arise when these two energy and environment goals conflict. Grant funds will allow Hernandez to explore this “renewable energy vs. conservation” tradeoff, exploring the West and Southwest regions of the United States to map and model the overlap between current and future conservation needs and renewable energy installation locations. The team will also engage a range of stakeholders to identify community preferences associated with these tradeoffs, with a particular focus on Indigenous nations and tribal communities. Funds will allow Hernandez to produce at least 4 peer-reviewed articles examining the conflict associated with species threatened by climate change and renewable energy development; produce detailed maps of range shift patterns for current and future renewable energy impacts on endangered species; undertake 2 stakeholder workshops; train 1 graduate student and 1 postdoctoral fellow; and produce a publicly accessible Climate-Smart Siting Guide for public distributions.