Abstract
With the coming of the 21st century in the U.S., reliance on fossil fuels, in particular coal, decreased while renewable energy sources increased their contribution to the U.S. energy portfolio. The factors behind this emerging trend toward a decreased reliance on coal are many, including economic as well as policy goals. Nationally, support is strong for the general transition to renewable energy, but this support can decline at the local level particularly if renewable energy is perceived as have negative local economic impact, impeding implementation. However, some look at this as part of a transition to a new economic power structure. Due to a lack of research on identifying public preferences for energy production in the United States, the authors conducted a national survey to identify drivers and barriers of acceptance of different types of electrical energy production. Results show that nationally, most Americans support decarbonization of the energy sector, especially if wind and solar photovoltaic facilities are located at least 5 miles (8 km) from their home. This is also supported by strong preference for an energy mix containing a larger percentage of energy produced by renewable energy sources. Environmental sustainability, economic viability, and social acceptance were of roughly equal importance in pairwise comparison of policy objectives. Results also demonstrate the importance of analyzing socio-demographic characteristic's role regarding acceptance of renewable energy sources. The information is useful for policy makers to better implement renewable energy development and improve acceptance of such technologies at the local level.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.