Managing Land Agents for Renewable Energy Projects
Some project developers have been burned in the past by land companies, causing them to feel reluctant when engaging service providers. That’s understandable, but we believe our approach to managing land agents offers a better path forward.
This article explores challenges of managing land agents and how we put our clients in a position to succeed.
Challenges of Managing Land Agents
Managing people can be complex in any line of work, but providing land services in the renewable sector presents a number of unique challenges. For starters, land agents may spend weeks out in the field with minimal in-person oversight. Also, renewable projects are frequently viewed through a political lens that leads to pushback from stakeholders, including the community at large. In addition, the following circumstances can be difficult to navigate:
Finding Motivated Agents: Ideally, land agents should be self-driven people who are focused on getting deals done.
Knowing Agents’ Strengths & Weaknesses: Getting the best from your team requires an understanding of each person’s working style, capabilities, personality traits, attitudes, and opportunities for improvement.
Dealing with Resistance to Change: “It’s just how I do things.” Such words can stifle progress and must be met with a balance of empathy and firmness.
Collecting Reliable Information: Land projects can change on a daily or hourly basis. Relying on outdated information from old emails leads to unreliable insights and bad decision-making.
Our Approach to Managing Land Agents
Different land companies manage land agents in different ways, but New Era Land Services prioritizes the following to ensure successful renewable energy projects:
Regular Correspondence & Check-Ins: We encourage open and regular communication with land agents. Typically, this involves weekly meetings and frequent phone calls and/or text messages.
Listening: Sometimes landowners are simply not interested in leasing land for solar, wind, or battery storage—despite land agents’ best efforts. We listen to what agents are telling us and adapt as necessary.
Implementing Reliable Systems & Technology: At New Era Land Services, we utilize modern data and project management technology to collect fresh information from land agents. We leverage that data to extract meaningful insights, create interactive visualizations, and keep projects on track.
Being Flexible, Yet Firm: In a perfect world, every land agent would buy into the organization’s systems and processes. That said, each person possesses different strengths and weaknesses. Some agents are more tech-savvy than others, and accommodations may be necessary.
Watching For (& Proactively Dealing with) Red Flags: Agents who fail to check in regularly, provide vague or unreliable feedback, and create friction with stakeholders can cause projects to get off track. We watch for warning signs and deal proactively with issues.
Staying Close to Projects at the Ownership Level: Leadership starts at the top, which is why our founders take a hands-on approach to client projects.
Need Help Managing Land Agents?
Contact us to discuss how New Era Land Services can support your next solar, wind, or battery storage project. We’re experienced at managing land agents and can help you staff up quickly.