Abstract:
This research intends to provide insights into community wind energy development in Oregon using an integrated analysis approach, which incorporates GIS Suitability Analysis, Socio-Political Analysis, and Empirical Case Studies. In the GIS analysis, we developed a model through a series of steps (including data acquisition, preprocessing, data management, manipulation and analysis, and output generation) to measure how suitable a location is for developing wind energy in Oregon. The socio-political analysis adopts the Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED) framework and categorized policies and incentives that are applicable to community wind projects into three classes: strategic, tactical, and operational. The empirical case studies, focused on seven projects in Oregon, are analyzed using the actor-network theoretical framework, and their opportunities and barriers are explored as well.
