The Biogas dilemma: an analysis on the Social Approval of large new plants

Massimiliano Mazzanti, Marco Modica and Andrea Rampa

No 221, SEEDS Working Papers from SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies

Abstract: The degree of social acceptance of biogas as a renewable green energy source is still somewhat disregarded. Although many initiatives have focused on the construction of new biogas plants around the world, with Italy as a relevant actor in the field, local protests on the construction of new plants are frequent in some areas. This study aims to analyse the determinants of citizens’ perceptions regarding the construction of new biomass plants in their neighbouring areas. In particular, the focus is on prior knowledge of the production process of biogas as well as on other individual characteristics. The investigation is based on two repeated surveys administered to citizens living in proximity to two Italian local areas in which the construction of new large biogas plants is planned: the provinces of Oristano in Sardinia and Andria in Apulia. The first survey analyses the main variables correlated with the degree of biogas acceptability with a focus on the role played by biogas knowledge. The second set of surveys focuses on the role of participatory processes and information campaigns undertaken by policy makers and environmental associations to increase the social acceptance of communities regarding the construction of new biogas plants.

Keywords: Biomass; Local Acceptance; Local public goods; waste management; renewable energy; Circularity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H49 Q42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 pages
Date: 2021-04, Revised 2021-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env and nep-eur
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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http://www.sustainability-seeds.org/papers/RePec/srt/wpaper/0221.pdf First version, 2021 (application/pdf)
http://www.sustainability-seeds.org/papers/RePec/srt/wpaper/0221.pdf Revised version, 2021 (application/pdf)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:srt:wpaper:0221

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