Public opinion concerning geothermal development in Lake County, California

Technical Report · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7194290· OSTI ID:7194290

Vollintine, L; Weres, O

A random sample of 2500 of the registered voters of Lake County, California, were polled about their opinions regarding the prospect of the development of geothermal energy in Lake County. The results of a secondary analysis of their responses are presented. The main conclusions are: (1) A large majority of the respondents are in favor of geothermal development provided that it is suitably regulated to minimize negative environmental impacts. (2) The main determinants of the respondents' approval or disapproval of geothermal development are their expectations concerning the environmental impacts of geothermal development and the economic benefits of development for the county. Essentially all respondents who do not perceive negative environmental impacts support development, and the expectation of increased job opportunities and/or tax revenues is a nearly absolute prerequisite for support of development. (auth) (3) Pro- and anti-geothermal bias have strong effects upon the formation of opinions about leasing and the perception of environmental impacts. (4) Purely demographic characteristics of the respondents, such as employment status and years of residence in the county, have only limited effects upon their attitudes toward geothermal development except in the southern portion of the county, where longer term residents and those who live in the county for reasons of employment are more in favor of development.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Lawrence Berkeley Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7194290
• Report Number(s): LBL-4447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
299002 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Geothermal-- (-1989)
CALIFORNIA
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Geothermal Legacy
LAND LEASING
LEASING
NORTH AMERICA
PUBLIC RELATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
TAXES
USA
WESTERN REGION