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Title: Siting bioenergy facilities in the United States: Measuring participation in decisions and distribution of effects

Journal Article · · Energy Research and Social Science
 [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [1];  [1];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8]; ORCiD logo [8];  [9];  [9];  [10]
  1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); University of Toronto, Scarborough, ON (Canada)
  3. Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), Atlanta, GA (United States)
  4. AFL-CIO, Washington, DC (United States)
  5. Jackson State University, Jackson, MS (United States)
  6. USDA Forest Service, Athens, GA (United States). Southern Research Station (SRS)
  7. National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Butte, MT (United States); American Solar Grazing Association, Berkshire, NY (United States)
  8. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
  9. US Department of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States). Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Bioenergy Technologies Office
  10. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); JSG Innovation Labs, LLC, Knoxville, TN (United States)

Scientists and stakeholders can inform the process of siting renewable energy facilities in ways that do not perpetuate socioeconomic disparities associated with fossil fuel industries or create new ones. Procedural justice indicators and distributional justice indicators that incorporate environmental, social, and economic objectives can be used to site energy facilities in ways that increase benefits and reduce negative impacts to disadvantaged and underserved populations. A generic list of potential energy justice indicators for siting bioenergy facilities was developed collaboratively between U.S. bioenergy researchers and diverse agriculture, energy, and energy and environmental justice stakeholders and experts. From this list smaller numbers of indicators can be selected or modified with communities for local siting of bioenergy facilities. Groups of indicators can be used to guide biorefinery or biopower siting and permitting decisions, e.g., to compare siting options, to draw early attention to key problems, or to track progress toward justice-related targets.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725; AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
2575359
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--5400-94547
Journal Information:
Energy Research and Social Science, Journal Name: Energy Research and Social Science Vol. 127; ISSN 2214-6296
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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