Evaluating Community Benefits from Ocean Renewable Energy off the U.S. West Coast: A Conjoint Experiment

• In Event: Issues in Renewable Energy Policies: Assessing Benefits, Effects, and Corruption

Abstract

The expansion of ocean-based renewable energy (ORE) (like wave energy and offshore wind energy) presents both opportunities for sustainable development and challenges related to equitable community engagement. Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) have emerged as a potential governance tool to ensure local communities share in the advantages of energy infrastructure, yet public preferences for specific CBA features remain underexplored. This study evaluates public attitudes toward CBAs in the context of ORE on the U.S. West Coast. Using a conjoint experimental design, we surveyed 3,009 California, Oregon, and Washington residents in 2024 to assess preferences for CBA attributes, including how the funding will be allocated, who will approve the agreement, who will manage the funds, and what will be required of fund recipients. We tested trade-offs across these dimensions to understand which combination is most likely to gain public support. We analyzed responses using Average Marginal Component Effects (AMCE) to estimate the causal impact of each attribute level on respondent preferences, isolating how specific CBA features influence choice when holding others constant. Additionally, Marginal Means (MM) were used to capture the overall likelihood of support for each attribute level, providing a descriptive overview of which features are most broadly favored. The analysis is ongoing. Results will provide evidence of how different CBA configurations influence public support for CBAs. This research contributes to the broader literature on public engagement in energy sitting by integrating experimental methods with current policy discourse. The findings of this study inform policymakers, developers, and local stakeholders seeking to design more inclusive and effective CBAs, ultimately supporting the successful implementation of ocean renewable energy projects.

 

Author

• Umama Rahman, Oregon State University
  Presenting Author