Published September 11, 2023
By Christine Reed
The University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER), in collaboration with the Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, released a new study exploring the evolution of Wyoming residents’ perspectives on energy development, focusing on “social license,” or the level to which Wyoming residents approve of or accept different forms and amounts of energy development.
A replication of the 2020 study published as “Social License for Wyoming’s Energy Future: What Do Residents Want?,” the comparative analysis explores the perspectives, values, needs and concerns of Wyoming residents in relation to energy in Wyoming and how they have evolved over time. Both studies were motivated by a desire to understand what Wyoming residents want in relation to energy and why.
The latest report, “Social License for Wyoming’s Energy Future: A Replication Study,” can be downloaded from SER’s Center for Energy Regulation and Policy Analysis webpage here.
“Social license regarding energy development is extremely important in order to move any of these technologies forward,” says Scott Quillinan, SER’s senior director of research. “As we work to develop the energy technologies of tomorrow, we have this tremendous opportunity and responsibility to listen to our communities and other stakeholders regarding the costs and benefits associated with energy development. This study and the one we conducted in 2019 have been immensely helpful in helping us gauge our next steps.”
Once again, the research was led by Jessica Western, a research associate and adjunct professor with the UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, who has a background in human dimensions of natural resources and collaborative approaches to natural resource problem-solving; and Selena Gerace, an SER associate research scientist. Additionally, the team received support from Will Benkelman, a graduate research assistant at the UW Haub School.
The Plains CO2 Reduction Partnership and the Intermountain West Energy Sustainability and Transitions initiative provided funding for the project.
The full study was achieved in two parts. First, during fall 2022, the team conducted a survey of Wyoming residents designed to assess opinions about energy-related activities in the state and provide insights into their desires for Wyoming’s energy future. Second, the team conducted a Q-study at the end of 2022 and in early 2023, which consisted of a series of interviews with 22 Wyoming residents who actively work on energy-related issues in the state.
When comparing these results to the 2019 survey, several trends emerged. According to the analysis, conventional fossil energy types — coal, oil and natural gas — still received the most support. Rooftop solar energy also received high levels of support on both surveys. Development of wind resources received considerably less support (51 percent in 2022 compared to 65.5 percent in 2019), while uranium mining, nuclear-based electricity generation, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and rare earth element and critical mineral extraction all received considerably more support in 2022, with fewer people reporting being neutral or not sure.
However, the need for more readily available and understandable information also was highlighted in the survey results, as well as the desire for policymakers to be more proactive in policies to address new technologies.
“We can surmise, from the updated results, that more outreach and education efforts need to be conducted,” Western says. “I think what we’re seeing is that the more residents and communities learn, the more we understand the trade-offs and the more communities will be able to adapt and create value from changing energy dynamics. All of these industries have become more prominent in the Wyoming energy discourse over recent years as they have made tangible traction in the state, but there is still work to be done.”
Overall, the study results showed that Wyoming residents support the state’s “all-of-the-above” energy strategy. Respondents generally felt that Wyoming’s role as a leader in coal, oil and natural gas has had a profound impact on the economy and culture of Wyoming, and many residents want Wyoming to continue to be a leader in these and emerging energy industries with three major themes permeating the analysis.
— The first theme was characterized by the consensus that climate change is occurring, though there are differences in beliefs about whether it is primarily caused by humans. This nearly universal acknowledgement, however, lends, at minimum, an understanding of the need to continue our carbon management efforts.
— The second theme was characterized by the belief that an all-of-the-above energy strategy would be most effective in increasing resilience in Wyoming. Respondents were less concerned with the type of technology and, instead, favored engaging in practical deliberation over what will provide jobs and revenue while also being in alignment with climate goals.
— The third theme was characterized by prioritizing communities and economics when making energy-related decisions. Q-study participants want communities to be a top priority in making energy-related decisions and want to ensure communities are supported in having employment and revenue sources.
“The survey is really a great opportunity for us to assess how far we have come in terms of educating stakeholders and the public on new energy technologies and to also address any gaps in our future outreach efforts,” Gerace adds. “Wyomingites have shown an increase in their energy IQ from when we first conducted this research in 2019. As people learn more about these different types of energy sources, they can then make an informed opinion.”
SER integrates innovative energy research and academic programs at UW and bridges academics and industry through targeted outreach programs. The Ruckelshaus Institute supports stakeholder-driven solutions to environmental challenges by conducting and communicating relevant research and promoting collaborative decision-making.
For more information, email Christine Reed at christine.reed@uwyo.edu.
