Final Report for CSP Tower Public Opinion and Education Project

Summary

This final report details a U.S. Department of Energy project (DE-0009809) focused on gathering public opinion and informing community engagement for concentrating solar power (CSP) tower projects in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Surveys of 82 residents in Tonopah, NV, revealed 56% support for future solar development, with strong preferences for U.S.-owned companies (72% essential) and local hiring (84% essential within 90 miles). Similarly, 144 surveys across Barstow and Silver Lakes, CA, showed 65% overall positive opinion for solar, but Silver Lakes demonstrated lower support (53%) and higher climate change disagreement (17%). The report provides detailed lessons learned and recommendations for developers to foster community acceptance, emphasizing early, transparent, and consistent engagement, and the integration of community benefit plans, especially considering Justice40 goals to direct 40% of federal investments to disadvantaged communities like Tonopah and Barstow.

Key Facts

Source Document

https://example-government.gov/policy-document-link