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Community support for campus approaches to sustainable energy use: The role of "town-gown" relationships

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  • McComas, Katherine A.
  • Stedman, Richard
  • Sol Hart, P.

Abstract

Across the United States, universities are grappling with challenges associated with adopting approaches to more sustainable energy use. One approach has been to develop energy-related projects in their local, host communities. Because host communities can play a major role in the successful planning and implementation of these projects, understanding the factors relating to their support is important. Building on research that suggests that procedural fairness is one such key factor, this study examines community members' support of six approaches a local university could implement to work towards a goal of carbon neutrality. The results of a mail survey (N=677) found that perceived fairness of campus decision makers was significantly related to community support for the proposed approaches; however, beliefs about the efficacy of the different approaches to address challenges associated with climate change had the strongest relationship with support. The results also suggest that residents prefer changes in the energy infrastructure, such as the development of wind power, over the purchase of carbon offsets. We discuss the results in terms of actions that universities may take to foster community engagement in decision-making for university-sponsored sustainable energy projects.

Suggested Citation

  • McComas, Katherine A. & Stedman, Richard & Sol Hart, P., 2011. "Community support for campus approaches to sustainable energy use: The role of "town-gown" relationships," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2310-2318, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:5:p:2310-2318
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    2. Rachael Budowle & Eric Krszjzaniek & Chelsea Taylor, 2021. "Students as Change Agents for Community–University Sustainability Transition Partnerships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-26, May.
    3. Sangaramoorthy, Thurka & Jamison, Amelia M. & Boyle, Meleah D. & Payne-Sturges, Devon C. & Sapkota, Amir & Milton, Donald K. & Wilson, Sacoby M., 2016. "Place-based perceptions of the impacts of fracking along the Marcellus Shale," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 27-37.
    4. McComas, Katherine A. & Lu, Hang & Keranen, Katie M. & Furtney, Maria A. & Song, Hwansuck, 2016. "Public perceptions and acceptance of induced earthquakes related to energy development," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 27-32.
    5. Li, Ruishi & Zhao, Rongqin & Xie, Zhixiang & Xiao, Liangang & Chuai, Xiaowei & Feng, Mengyu & Zhang, Huifang & Luo, Huili, 2022. "Water–energy–carbon nexus at campus scale: Case of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    6. Samantha Mosier & Megan Ruxton, 2018. "Sustainability university–community partnerships: Lessons for practitioners and scholars from highly sustainable communities," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(3), pages 479-495, May.
    7. Daniel A. DeCaro & Marco A. Janssen & Allen Lee, 2015. "Synergistic effects of voting and enforcement on internalized motivation to cooperate in a resource dilemma," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 10(6), pages 511-537, November.
    8. Karen Hutchins & Laura A Lindenfeld & Kathleen P. Bell & Jessica Leahy & Linda Silka, 2013. "Strengthening Knowledge Co-Production Capacity: Examining Interest in Community-University Partnerships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-27, September.

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