Course: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals

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Conclusions
Involvement versus Decision-making

Community Participation in Renewable Energy Development
Community Participation in Renewable Energy Development

These authors believe that a purposeful public participation process – one that seeks to involve the public in evaluating renewable energy options and facility development – will contribute to the success of bioenergy projects. Projects that have broad-based community support at the onset, and that have been designed to address community concerns, are more likely to succeed than those conceptualized solely by developers and/or officials. Developers who address community concerns early in the development process can avoid costly community opposition and dissent later in the process.

In the previous unit, the authors introduced a wide array of community concerns (environmental, economic, social) and the diversity of stakeholder perspectives that should be considered in any public input or decision-making process. This unit introduces tools for Extension educators as they engage stakeholders in discussions and decision-making about bioenergy and other renewable energy developments.

Resources provided by the eXtension Farm Energy Community of Practice at http://www.extension.org/ag+energy

Conclusions
Involvement versus Decision-making