Abstract
Organizations that wish to successfully implement technologies that might affect local communities and that are of long-term strategic importance are wise to work with those communities to ensure that proposed projects are acceptable. In fact, organizations increasingly are required to work with communities to ensure that projects are mutually acceptable (Gregory et al., Energ Pol 31(12):1291–1299, 2003). Achieving projects that are broadly acceptable increasingly requires engaging with community stakeholders early in the process and adapting the project design to align with the values, interests, and priorities of the community. It also calls for developing effective risk communications to address misunderstandings or gaps in perceptions about the project and its potential impacts on the community.
This chapter presents a case study of how Mental Modeling was used to develop and implement a science-informed, systematic approach to stakeholder engagement in a rural community in Alberta, Canada. Mental Modeling was used to discover community members’ values and perceptions about a potential demonstration project using Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) generation technologies combined with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the area. This was the first integration of proven technologies applied to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions in a coal-fired power plant in North America. The insight gained from the mental models research was then used to develop a comprehensive Host Community Engagement Strategy and Plan based on leading risk communications principles and practices.
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Notes
- 1.
Power plants that run continuously over extended periods of time are called baseload plants. The power from these plants serves the base demand of the power grid. A power plant may run as a baseload power plant due to various factors (long starting time requirement, fuel requirements, etc.)
- 2.
http://www.aer.ca/documents/sts/ST98/st98-2004.pdf—Alberta’s Reserves 2003 and Supply/Demand Outlook 2004–2013.
- 3.
This Guideline (subsequently revised in 2009 as Q850-87 (R2009) Risk Management: Guideline for Decision Makers) is also aligned with the US Presidential/Congressional Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management Process and the Australian/New Zealand Risk Management Standard. In addition, our work in strategic risk communications is aligned with the International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) 31000 Guidelines on Risk Management (2009), to which Decision Partners provided input.
- 4.
Capital Power Corporation (EPCOR) Consultation Procedure, 2004.
- 5.
This sample size is typical for a research project of this kind.
- 6.
While CPC elected not to proceed with the project, the company was awarded funding for the initial demonstration project as reported in the following news release: http://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=2638932A61D80-09C7-C9F7-CCD99F5E0113E39A.
References
Alberta’s Reserves 2003 and Supply/Demand Outlook 2004-2013. Retrieved from http://www.aer.ca/documents/sts/ST98/st98-2004.pdf.
Capital Power Corporation (EPCOR). (2004). Consultation Process and procedures.
Acknowledgments
This chapter is based on reports from each of the key activities discussed here. Special thanks to Martin Kennedy, Megan Young, Dr. Dan Kovacs, Megan Young, Dr. Laurel Austin, and Anne Papmehl for their contributions to this chapter.
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Thorne, S., Young, M. (2017). Using Mental Modeling to Systematically Build Community Support for New Coal Technologies for Electricity Generation. In: Mental Modeling Approach. Risk, Systems and Decisions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6616-5_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6616-5_11
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