What Explains Local Policy Elites' Preferences Toward Sustainable Energy Policy?

Abstract

Given the importance of climate change controversies in our society, inferences drawn from examining the way in which policymakers and business leaders form their preferences toward sustainable energy policy are important to craft future policy directions. In this paper, we attempt to identify individual-level determinants that shape sustainable energy policy adoption decisions, utilizing the grid-group cultural theory (CT) mixed with rational choice perspectives. Through an analysis of data collected from a statewide survey of 420 local policy elites in more than 50 Arkansas cities in 2014, we found that cultural values – particularly those of egalitarianism and individualism – significantly influence sustainable energy policy preferences, with egalitarians demonstrating higher support for sustainable energy policies and individualists demonstrating lower levels of support. We further found that feasibility considerations – particularly economic and land use feasibility perceptions – significantly influence sustainable energy policy preferences, with higher levels of perceived feasibility being associated with higher levels of support for sustainable energy policies. In sum, such feasibility considerations are present in policy elites’ related policy preference formation, but are constrained by their cultural value predispositions. We conclude by discussing various ramifications of our research findings.