Evaluating Public Perception of Lithium Mining: A RCT Survey Experiment

• In Event: Critical Minerals, EV Adoption, and Clean Energy Demand

Abstract

The growing demand for critical minerals, particularly lithium, has intensified efforts to expand domestic mining in the United States, raising important questions about public acceptance of such development. While lithium is essential for electric vehicle batteries, renewable energy storage systems, consumer electronics, and data centers, mining activities pose environmental and social risks, especially for communities located near proposed sites. This study examines how informational framing influences public attitudes toward lithium mining in southeastern Oregon, a region with emerging development potential. To identify causal effects, the study employs a randomized controlled survey experiment administered using a mixed-mode recruitment strategy. Invitation letters and follow-up postcard reminders are mailed to 7,152 randomly selected households in southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada, and respondents are invited to complete the survey online, with the option to request a paper version. This hybrid approach is designed to improve accessibility and participation across diverse populations, including rural and hard-to-reach communities. Randomization is implemented at the individual level within the survey instrument. Upon accessing the survey, respondents are randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group receiving neutral background information; a treatment group exposed to a benefit-oriented frame emphasizing national energy security and economic development; or a treatment group exposed to a cost-oriented rural resentment frame highlighting environmental risks and community impacts. The informational treatment is presented prior to outcome measurement, ensuring that subsequent responses capture the causal influence of framing. Because the assignment is random and independent of respondent characteristics, the design allows for unbiased estimation of treatment effects. The primary outcome will measure individual-level support for lithium mining, while secondary outcomes will capture perceptions of economic benefits, environmental risks, and social impacts. Treatment effects will be estimated using linear probability models, with robustness checks employing alternative specifications.  The study further explores heterogeneity in responses across demographic, political, and place-based characteristics, including rural identity and proximity to mining activity. By isolating the causal impact of informational frames, the analysis identifies how narratives around national benefits versus local costs shape public opinion. The findings are expected to provide insights into the mechanisms driving support or opposition to lithium mining and inform policymakers and stakeholders seeking to design more effective, equitable, and publicly acceptable resource development strategies in the context of the clean energy transition.

Author

• Umama Rahman, Middle Tennessee State University
  Presenting Author