Course: BFM 101 Biofuels Fundamentals

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The “Triple Bottom Line” Approach to Bioenergy Dev…
Determining Economic Costs and Benefits of Energy …

Diverse Stakeholders in Bioenergy Development
Diverse Stakeholders in Bioenergy Development

Bioenergy development, like all development, affects many different stakeholders. As with the diversity of issues, there are a multitude of stakeholders involved in and affected by the development and regulation of bioenergy resources. Stakeholders typically fall into one of three broad categories:

- Developers/related businesses/land owners;
- Neighbors/concerned residents/concerned businesses; or
- Government bodies/non-profits/third parties.

In each of the broad categories — developer, neighbor, government — stakeholders can consider bioenergy alternatives from the “triple bottom line” perspective, and consider the economic, environmental, and social aspects and consequences of each alternative.  Consider a triangle with each stakeholder category at a corner.  At the center of the triangle, with views of the perspective held by each stakeholder, is the Extension Educator. From this vantage point, the Extension Educator works to facilitate a discussion of relevant issues with the goal of identifying outcomes that benefit stakeholders and  maximize quality of life, as defined by community residents.  To anticipate the full range of perspectives from a community, all stakeholders should be involved in planning for the community’s energy needs. Omitting an interested stakeholder group will have potential negative ramifications for the sustainability of support for the project. Below are potential bioenergy stakeholders organized around the three categories described above. The list is by no means exhaustive and is provided simply to show the breadth of stakeholder perspectives.

Developers/related businesses/land owners

- Investors, bankers, those seeking a return on capital investment
- Farmers, forestland owners, loggers (part of the biomass supply chain, and processors)
- Property owner where bioenergy project facility is proposed to be built
- Technology and infrastructure providers
- Consultants and other technical advisors providing services to developers/landowners
- Independent power producer selling the bioenergy product
- Quasi-governmental economic development agencies in support of project
- Business development organizations seeking to promote development

Neighbors/concerned residents/concerned businesses

- Nearby property owners and others directly or indirectly affected by the project, but not likely to benefit directly
- Existing industries which may be negatively affected by project (for example, businesses requiring similar feedstock which will probably pay more as a result of competition for that feedstock)
- Formal and informal groups with social, economic, and/or environmental concerns related to the project

Government bodies/non-profits/third parties

- Conservationists and natural resources professionals assessing the effects of the project on the environment
- Local policy makers charged with making land use decisions related to the projectState agencies which would issue permits for the project or activities that support the project
- Planning and zoning boards and commissions

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

The “Triple Bottom Line” Approach to Bioenergy Dev…
Determining Economic Costs and Benefits of Energy …