Ocean Place, Ocean Space: the human science side of the ocean o the coast of Oregon Flaxen Conway Marine Resource Management Oregon Sea Grant / School of Public Policy College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University http://www.coas.oregonstate.edu       –  – ! "#$ %$ # &'$ [...]... local leaders, and the internet Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences Communities of Interest • Ally networks exist within government; and b/t conservation and scientists, and local government and ocean users • Opponent networks exist b/t ocean users and the energy industry, technical experts, federal and state government • Interest groups are in different stages of understanding and action •... Generation 3 BMP for Permitting and Management 4 Perceptions of and Effects on Communities of Place and Interest Why is studying the human dimension important? • Inform research, decision makers, developers, stakeholders, and the public • Design research and policy processes to meet citizen / community concerns and maximize policy input • Create effective public education and engagement efforts Lessons... research program studied… • Public’s knowledge and values and their opinions re: wave energy • Link between knowledge/understanding and acceptance or lack of support re: wave energy • Wave energy information sources • Wave energy and community well being Six research projects in four thematic areas: 1 Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences on Permitting and Planning 2 Comparison of Wave Energy to... engagement efforts Lessons Learned re:  Governance  Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences  Sustainability and Acceptability  Outreach and Engagement: putting perceptions and perspectives to work Governance • Sound planning is critical • Testing projects was the greatest area of support and agreement among stakeholders and policy actors • Demonstrations projects provide an opportunity to... info or learn about wave energy • Focus outreach efforts on local newspapers/media • Avoid pre-determined locations and commercial scale projects • Use local and state government as political mediators • Foster cooperation • Design the outreach and engagement process • Engage early and often • Expect challenges and successes Use both to create progress in – Systems for working together – Listen, listen,... and action • Primary source of information were the energy industry, utilities, and scientists/engineers • Most trusted source of information were scientists/engineers, energy industry, and local government • Least trusted source of information were energy industry, scientists/engineers, and the media Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences Communities of Place • Perceptions not based on demographic... distrust • Community well-being is important and it remains to be seen how it will be impacted Sustainability and Acceptability SUSTAINABILITY SCORES Types of Energy Types of Sustainability Environmental Economic Social OVERALL Geothermal 8 7 8 23 Solar 9 1 9 19 Hydro 5 6 6 17 Wind 7 3 5 15 Wave 6 2 7 15 LNG 3 9 2 14 Petroleum 2 8 3 13 Biomass 4 4 4 12 Nuclear 1 5 1 7 Sustainability and Acceptability Geothermal... depends on how the development managed locally Hydro – Surface water needs, aging infrastructures and public’s knowledge determine the acceptability Biomass – Can enhance economy; environmental pros and cons need to be considered; social acceptance is not certain Wind – Transmission capacity b/t east and west and costs affect the acceptability Solar – Abundance of resources/systems; economic questions... Greater capital flow – private and government – is the thing that can aid deployment • Investments should advance the greater body of science about wave energy • Environmental data should remain public Socioeconomic and Sociopolitical Influences Public Perceptions • Regional differences in attitudes and familiarity with wave energy exists; coastal residents hold more defined and intense opinions • Positive... from this human science research program are… and how do you put them to work? Coastal communities of place and of interest are: • Interested • willing to accept some change, but • they feel the Oregon coast is worth slowing the wave energy process down so that they can work with others to reach a desired, mutuallybeneficial future So if you want to reach and engage community members… • Public meetings . #$ ()*)*#* ))$ ()+, #-  $.+*/# $  $ ) *) *$  )*     *)) • !*0)1) $ • 2*3 1)$ • )#$ • )*$ Our. re: • 4#$ • #5 $ • #5) * #- # *$ Governance • :7@))@ $ • ))* *)$ • )*$ • .&,) A -  $ • !#),+$ • ))#+'+##+ +$ Socioeconomic. re: • 4#$ • #5 $ • #5) * #- # *$ Governance • :7@))@ $ • ))* *)$ • )*$ • .&,) A -  $ • !#),+$ • ))#+'+##+ +$ Socioeconomic