Environmental Behavioral Sciences Seminar

West Coast Perspectives on Ocean Renewable Energy

Policymakers concerned about anthropogenic climate change are seeking ways to drastically increase renewable energy production. Yet, solar and land-based wind energy have specific generation patterns that pose a challenge to fully decarbonizing the grid without increases in storage capacity. In response, policymakers are seeking to open ocean and coastal areas to a variety of complementary renewable energies, including offshore wind, wave, and tidal. The U.S. West Coast has high potential for both offshore wind and wave energy development, yet such development can and has faced public opposition. We use 2023 survey data (N=2,999) from California, Oregon and Washington to explore attitudes toward ocean renewable energy, both wave and offshore wind. We use cluster analysis to segment respondents into five main perspectives about both renewable energies: Disengaged, Concerned, Neutral, Cautious, and Advocate. We then explore a variety of factors that could influence the likelihood of cluster membership. We find that attitudes toward solar and land-based wind, coastal place attachment, and techno-optimism are key drivers of cluster membership. We compare these results to interview findings from the Oregon Coast – where a pilot wave energy test facility is under construction, but offshore wind leasing was recently postponed – drawing implications for siting and public perceptions of offshore renewable energy development.

Biography

Hilary Boudet is a Professor and Director of Graduate Programs in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. Her research interests include environmental and energy policy, natural resource sociology, social movements, and public participation in energy and environmental decision-making. She has published two books and over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles on these topics, securing over $4.7 million in research grants from the National Science Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, and U.S. Department of Energy. Boudet received a Ph.D. in environment and resources from Stanford University.