Improving solar development policy and planning through stakeholder engagement: The Long Island Solar Roadmap Project

Schelly, Chelsea; Price, Jessica; Delach, Aimee; Thapaliya, Rupak; Leu, Karen

doi:10.1016/j.tej.2019.106678

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The survey described here was developed as one part of a larger project examining the technical, economic, spatial, and social factors influencing mid-to large-scale solar development on Long Island with the purpose of providing information to promote development while reducing siting conflicts [7]. This project involved stakeholder-driven processes and initial interviews and discussions with a diverse set of actors involved in solar energy development on Long Island.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The survey was administered online by the local electric utility, one of the stakeholders that participated in this project, and sent to 50,000 randomly selected customer email addresses representing a utility service territory of approximately 1 million customers in Suffolk and Nassau Counties, New York (see Figure 1). The survey was developed to be easily accessible on mobile devices and, at the request of the project team [7], was developed with an English or Spanish language option, which respondents could select once entering the survey. The survey resulted in a total of 405 responses, six of which were responses to the Spanish language version of the survey, a total response rate of less than 1%.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ratepayer Perspectives on Mid- to Large-Scale Solar Development on Long Island, NY: Lessons for Reducing Siting Conflict through Supported Development Types

et al. 2020

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The state of New York has ambitious mandates for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy generation. Solar energy will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric energy sector. Concerns over solar installations’ impacts to host communities and the environment have led to growing conflicts over solar energy siting on Long Island, in other parts of New York, and throughout the US. Understanding community members’ perspectives is critical for reducing conflict. Solar energy can be deployed more quickly and at lower cost if projects are structured to address the concerns and meet the needs of the community. This paper presents the results of a survey of residential utility ratepayers that examined their perceptions, preferences, and priorities concerning mid- to large-scale solar development on Long Island (250 kW and larger). The survey asked respondents to consider specific installation types, financial models, and other aspects of solar development. Results indicate that respondents were overwhelmingly supportive of mid- to large-scale solar development in their communities. The most highly supported development types were solar systems on rooftops and solar systems that are co-located with other land uses (mixed use) at a particular site, such as parking canopies, landfills, or integration with agriculture. The most highly supported financial models included privately funded projects by local developers and community solar projects. The largest concern about solar development expressed by respondents did not involve tree removal or visibility (as initially hypothesized to be the most significant considerations) but rather the fairness of the distribution of economic benefits associated with solar development. This paper provides concrete insight into particular models of solar development that may invoke less conflict and more community support.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ratepayer Perspectives on Mid- to Large-Scale Solar Development on Long Island, NY: Lessons for Reducing Siting Conflict through Supported Development Types

et al. 2020

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“…The techno-economic feasibility of 100% or nearly 100% RE transition in the United States have been studied by various researchers [16][17][18]. Previous studies have captured public and stakeholder perceptions on solar projects [9,19], while other studies have shown the engagement of individuals on various wind projects [20]. One of the explanations for the dearth in this research area is the relatively new concept of 100% RE in the United States and the very few empirical case studies in this context.…”

Section: Public Perception Of 100% Renewable Electricity In the United Statesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With these in mind, it is important to investigate whether WUP residents would show buy-in for such a transition that has potential energy cost savings and their willingness to support a municipality-led initiative that will reduce their energy consumption. In research done in other contexts, supportive public attitudes have been due to positive economic benefits in Southern California [8], while locally funded projects by private entities have received the most support in the case of Long Island [9]. As these factors cannot be generalized for all places in the United States due to the uniqueness of every city and state, it is important to understand whether these factors can spur support or opposition in other places.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Achieve Justice in Transitioning to 100% Renewable Electricity? Survey of Public Perceptions in Sociotechnical Change

Adesanya

2021

Sustainability

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The cost of energy in the Western Upper Peninsula (WUP), a rural and northern part of the state of Michigan, is among the highest in the United States. This situation has resulted in hardship for WUP residents due to exorbitant electricity bills. While interest in renewable electricity (RE) has increased in the region, the unanswered questions are what factors would make WUP residents more or less supportive of a transition to 100% RE, and how does the support for a 100% RE transition differ between counties in the WUP? This research analyzed factors that would make residents more or less supportive of a 100% RE transition in the WUP. This research investigated public perceptions through a quantitative residents’ survey (N = 347). Using logistic regression, the results show that residents’ likelihood to participate in a municipality-led initiative that will reduce their consumption by 5% is statistically significant to their probability of support for wind energy development at p < 0.05. Furthermore, the likelihood of 100% RE transition support is very high across WUP counties, with a similar trend for project preferences. The results in this research can provide a roadmap for future community-engaged planning on 100% RE in various counties in the region.

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“…This decision factor has nothing to do with the environment, economics, or solar itself, but indicates the unexplored role perceptions of trust play in motivating renewable energy technology adoption. Other recent research also indicates that concerns regarding trust are important in shaping perceptions of solar technology development [26]; a recent study on Long Island found that concern that the economic benefits of solar are not equitably distributed, a concern anchored in lack of trust regarding a fair distribution of benefits associated with solar, was the most highly ranked concern about solar development [27]. Previous research suggests that peer effects influence adoption [28], while the current study suggests perceived reputation of installers is more influential.…”

Section: Conclusion and Policy Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Key Drivers of Residential Solar Adoption in Upstate New York

Schelly

Letzelter²

2020

Sustainability

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This research examines the decision factors influencing adoption of residential solar electric power systems in upstate New York. New York has a goal to provide 100% of electric energy in the State through renewable resources, which includes solar electricity, by 2030. Thus, identifying the most important decision factors may be useful in understanding potential means of promoting solar technology adoption. Through an online survey of homeowners in upstate New York who have installed residential solar systems, the research examined the importance of decision factors influencing the decision to adopt and how factors have changed over time. The research finds that environmental motivations are slightly more important than economics and that perception of solar installers is also important to adopters. This work contributes new insights to the field of research examining solar and renewable energy technology adoption at the residential scale, addresses the role of policy in promoting solar adoption, and provides insights for developers and others looking to enhance the rates of solar technology adoption at the residential scale.

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Improving solar development policy and planning through stakeholder engagement: The Long Island Solar Roadmap Project

Cited by 12 publications

References 6 publications

Ratepayer Perspectives on Mid- to Large-Scale Solar Development on Long Island, NY: Lessons for Reducing Siting Conflict through Supported Development Types

Ratepayer Perspectives on Mid- to Large-Scale Solar Development on Long Island, NY: Lessons for Reducing Siting Conflict through Supported Development Types

Can Michigan’s Upper Peninsula Achieve Justice in Transitioning to 100% Renewable Electricity? Survey of Public Perceptions in Sociotechnical Change

Examining the Key Drivers of Residential Solar Adoption in Upstate New York

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