NCCOS Assessment: Quantitative Assessment of Spatially-Explicit Social Values Relative to Wind Energy Areas

The tabular dataset is a product of household survey conducted in 2018. The sampling geography was a predefined coastal region of North and South Carolina adjacent to offshore wind development areas. The subject of the data collection was resident perceptions of local offshore wind energy development. Variables relate to place attachment, recreational activities, social value of favorite places, awareness, perceived impact to important quality of life items, support level, past and future action, and demographic and household characteristics. There are two formats of the tabular dataset provided: csv and STATA. (2019-07-19)

The spatial/GIS dataset is a product of household survey conducted in 2018. The sampling geography was a predefined coastal region of North and South Carolina adjacent to offshore wind development areas. The subject of the data collection was resident perceptions of local offshore wind energy development. The spatial/GIS dataset is associated with a mapping question, Question 6 of the survey instrument. Question 6 asked respondents to identify three Favorite Places on a map of the study region, as well as to identify associated social values for each location. Locations identified were assigned to 10 square km cells during the survey coding process for spatial analysis and to visualize the spatial distribution of Favorite Places. Shapefiles are provided in the dataset. (OMB CONTROL NUMBER: 0648-0744) (2019-07-19)

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM’s) Office of Renewable Energy Programs oversees development of offshore renewable energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). BOEM identified wind energy areas (WEAs) on the OCS of North Carolina, and was in the process of locating WEAs in South Carolina. To inform management, NCCOS assessed the values and activities of coastal residents to characterize and monitor the complex interactions between society, the environment, and energy development projects.

Statistical modeling suggests that low awareness of local offshore wind energy development and high uncertainty of impacts from such development are predictive of support. While residents from households located closer to the shoreline are more likely to be opposed to local offshore wind energy development, more residents were supportive than opposed in this region of the coastal Carolinas. Unexpectedly, daytime views of the ocean does not predict support level. Perceived importance of marine mammal and sea turtle habitat drives opposition, while electricity affordability drives support for local offshore wind energy development. Results also suggest that residents living further inland from the shoreline are less likely to intend future action related to offshore wind energy development than residents living closer to the shoreline.

Residents who are opposed to local development efforts are most likely to intend future wind action, while those reporting a neutral position are least likely. However, the influence of support level on intention to act is affected by place attachment. Residents with a greater place attachment are more likely to intend future action, especially if they are opposed. Finally, more past action related to the potential for offshore wind energy development is a predictor of future action, but those who strongly support local efforts are less likely to intend future wind action.

Outside of official public engagement forums, preferences about offshore wind energy development generally remain unknown for members of the public. Few studies focus on the importance of environmental values and place-based attachment in mediating community support for, or opposition to, offshore wind energy development. This research offers an approach for understanding what is important to communities, and how differing values and perceptions across communities can influence local receptiveness to proposed development.

This study provides BOEM and NOAA with an enhanced understanding of the relationship between the use of marine space, the type and intensity of place-based attachments, and the likelihood of local engagement in social action to support or oppose renewable energy projects.

Partners:

• US DOI; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM); Office of Renewable Energy Programs (OREP)

• US DOC; NOAA; NOS; Office for Coastal Management (OCM)

• University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC-CH); HW Odum Institute for Research in Social Science

Funding:

• US DOC; NOAA; NOS; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), NCCOS Project #299, “Assessing Social Values Relative to Offshore Wind Energy Areas in North and South Carolina”

• US DOI; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), OCS Study #2019-054, “Assessment of Spatially-Explicit Social Values Relative to Offshore Wind Energy Areas in the Carolinas”

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For details of data completeness, see Lineage Sources.

For details of data quality control methods, see Lineage Sources. All users should independently analyze the datasets according to their own needs and standards to determine data usability.

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