Community Decisions and Public Perceptions about Using Wood for Energy Martha C. Monroe, Annie Oxarart, and Jessica Tomasello Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

What’s Coming Why bother Overview of our study How the public might perceive woody biomass for energy What this means for outreach efforts Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Why Bother? Public support can keep projects alive Lack of public support can destroy projects Public participation can improve project design Public agencies need public support But it requires education and outreach Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

What We Heard But what will happen to our forests? Haven’t we progressed beyond wood? As long as you only burn waste material, that would be fine. Burning wood puts more carbon in the air. What will prevent a farmer from planting an invasive exotic just to make money? Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Public Perceptions Inform Outreach Materials Alachua County is discussing new wood to energy facility Interviewed people to understand concerns Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Our Survey 1517 residents of single-family and mobile homes in Alachua County, FL in fall 2006, 19.6% response rate 22 questions: (1) Awareness and knowledge (2) General impressions (3) Misconceptions (4) Trust (5) Community participation (6) Demographic questions Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

A Hypothetical Town Meeting with Green Electric Utility Company Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Energy I lliteracy 12% of Americans can pass a basic energy quiz Our respondents: 54% “not at all knowledgeable” about using wood for energy 5% “very knowledgeable” Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Preferred Energy Source Energy Resource Somewhat or strongly favor Somewhat or strongly oppose Don’t know Solar93%5%2% Wind91%9%-- Natural gas83%11%6% Landfill gas64%18% Forest waste59%29%12% Nuclear31%63%6% Coal24%69%7% Farhar 1999, U.S. Department of Energy

Preference for Renewable Energy Renewable Resource Percent “very favorable” Percent choosing in top 3 preferred energy choices Solar 6958 Wind 6169 Biomass 3226 Farhar 1999, U.S. Department of Energy Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Climate Change How does wood compare to fossil fuels in terms of climate change? CoalNatural Gas Wood is Better18.8%11.6% About the same30.7%24.2% Wood is Worse6.5%23.1% Don’t know45.8% 43.9% Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Attitudes toward using wood Concerns Loss of local forests4.10 Increased air pollution3.95 Higher cost of electricity3.81 Increased traffic for wood delivery 3.59 Increased competition for wood3.37 Increased noise from plant operations 3.25 Benefits Use wood that would go to waste 4.23 Maintain local forests4.20 Renewable energy source4.11 Not contributing to global climate change 3.99 Reduce dependence on foreign energy 3.95 Keep dollars in the community 3.46 Addition of entry-level jobs3.06 Provide better markets for wood = not at all important; 5 = extremely important Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

More evidence If we are going to use wood for energy, it is most important that we manage the forest sustainably for wildlife, water quality, and wood production (3.71). As long as waste wood is being burned, we should collect it and use the energy (3.27). 1=strongly disagree 4= strongly agree Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Sources of Wood 71% support using waste wood 61% support using wood grown for energy Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Questions Remain What species would be grown? How would forests be managed? How much more frequently will harvests occur? Can the ecosystem sustain the increased pressure on forests? Bioenergy could bring changes to Southern forests and forest management as significant as pine plantations were to natural forests Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Public Trust Sources of information about woody biomass that survey respondents consider most reliable are: local foresters (2.2) environmental groups (2.2) extension agents (2.1) Least reliable sources: local businesses industry (both scoring 1.6) 3-point scale where 1 is not at all reliable and 3 is very reliable Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Public Trust Barriers to Trust –Uncertainty –Exclusion Building Trust –Education –Communication Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Public Involvement 53% believe that the community would be influential in a proposed project. 54% are interested in participating in the decision- making process. Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Factors in outreach 1) local forests and air quality are important 2) waste wood is okay 3) solar and wind are best 4) burning wood increases CO 2, 5) healthy forests have no management, 6) foresters, environmental groups, and extension agents are reliable sources of information. Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007

Questions? Woody Biomass Outreach Training September 11-12, 2007