This project focuses on rural communities in southwestern Pennsylvania (SWPA) and their views on solar project development and implementation. The administrative capacity of municipal governments to evaluate sitting of solar projects and to negotiate community benefit agreements will also be studied.
Research Methodology
A survey and/or semi-structured interviews with local community members and stakeholders to gain information about their opinions towards multiple facets of solar projects. These surveys and/or interviews will also be implemented for local government to inquire about local ordinance and capacity to pursue solar projects.
Research Goals
The results of this research aim to support the larger goal of guiding work on the sociotechnical innovations of solar projects and public policies to support solar deployment that are aligned with local communities’ preferences. This research will also support provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, specifically, the deployment of solar projects in rural coal and natural gas legacy communities.