A review and critique of the socioeconomic impact assessment for the Kahe Point Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) facility

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5582117

Bowen, R; Gopalakrishnan, C; Samples, K

This report addresses the adequacy of Ocean Thermal Corporation's socioeconomic impact assessment of its 40-MWe closed-cycle ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) pilot plant proposed for Kahe Point, Oahu, Hawaii. The socioeconomic impacts identified as relevant to the plant were assessed in detail, including potential economic-demographic, public-service and fiscal, ocean-use, aesthetic, cultural, and energy impacts. The economic-demographic impact assessment does not estimate the full extent of population and income changes or second-order effects associated with the plant. There is no subjective assessment of perceptions on the part of local communities concerning probable changes in land values, housing, and population. Anticipated public-service and fiscal impacts are found to be relatively unimportant; however, the measurement of the impact of the plant on tax revenues needs improvement. The assessment does not sufficiently consider the objective and subjective assessment of ocean-use, aesthetic, and cultural impacts, which are of major significance to the local communities. The quantification of physical impacts, perceptions of impacts, and potential mitigation measures is inadequate. The energy impacts need to be updated to reflect the recent declines in oil prices and price projections. An assessment of low-probability, high-risk occurrences may be necessary. 12 refs., 3 tabs.

• Research Organization: Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA). Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5582117
• Report Number(s): ANL/OTEC-TM-6; ON: DE88005780
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140800* -- Solar Energy-- Ocean Energy Systems
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
CONVERSION
DEMOGRAPHY
ENERGY CONVERSION
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
QUALITY OF LIFE
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION