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Sharing the Sun: Community Solar in Ohio

Pathak, Ruchie
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9157-9131
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587682849293268

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Environment and Natural Resources.
Community solar projects allow users to take ownership in the energy they consume. With several such projects emerging rapidly all around the world, within United States and in the state of Ohio, very little is known today regarding the development and community acceptance of these projects. In this scenario, this exploratory research investigates the different reasons as to why a community adopts such renewable energy systems in order to clarify our understanding of the diffusion process. This rapid diffusion of community solar projects in Ohio is examined through the lens of diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory put forward by E. Rogers (1962), which states that the adoption of an innovation is dependent on factors like the characteristics of potential adopters, the attributes of the innovation itself and as well as the setting where the diffusion takes place. The research involves in-depth interviews with key informants, starting with the current managers of municipally owned/utility-owned solar projects, representatives from area businesses, industry, and community groups in three study sites located within Ohio. The interviews seek to capture the development (process) of three community solar initiatives: the local decision-making process for the projects, project features, types of impacts perceived to have occurred in local communities due to these projects and their future. My findings from this exploratory research suggests that it is indeed the local context of these communities that drives the groundwork and development of such renewable energy initiatives, with each of the three study sites having a distinct premise, along with the provision of an incentive program or a policy enacted at either state or federal level (or both), contributing towards the establishment of these solar facilities. Moreover, the findings also suggest that it is the economic benefits of these projects, combined with their relative unobtrusiveness, that ultimately determine their social acceptance. Further, the study highlights an excellent opportunity for future research to evaluate people’s attitudes towards investing in these projects and examine the different characteristics of the project that drive intent to participate and barriers to adoption.
Jeffrey Jacquet (Advisor)
147 p.
Environmental Studies
Community Solar; Renewable Energy; Community Renewable Energy Initiatives; Diffusion of Innovation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pathak, R. (2020). Sharing the Sun: Community Solar in Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587682849293268

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pathak, Ruchie. Sharing the Sun: Community Solar in Ohio. 2020. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587682849293268.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pathak, Ruchie. "Sharing the Sun: Community Solar in Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1587682849293268

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1587682849293268
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.