Full Title: Public Discourse in Energy Policy Decision-Making: Final Report
Author(s): Center for Advanced Energy Studies
Publisher(s): Center for Advanced Energy Studies
Publication Date: August 1, 2010
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The ground is littered with projects that failed because of strong public opposition, including natural gas and coal power plants proposed in Idaho over the past several years. This joint project of the Idaho National Laboratory, Boise State University, Idaho State University and University of Idaho has aimed to reduce project risk through encouraging the public to engage in more critical thought and be more actively involved in public or social issues.
Early in a project, project managers and decision-makers can talk with no one, pro and con stakeholder groups, or members of the public. Experience has shown that talking with no one outside of the project incurs high risk because opposition stakeholders have many means to stop most (if not all) energy projects. Talking with organized stakeholder groups provides some risk reduction from mutual learning, but organized groups tend not to change positions except under conditions of a negotiated settlement. Achieving a negotiated settlement may be impossible. Furthermore, opposition often arises outside preexisting groups.