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Anabela Botelho, Lina Lourenço-Gomes, Ligia Pinto, Sara Sousa and Marieta Valente (mvalente@eeg.uminho.pt)
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Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2016, vol. 18, issue 5, 1323-1337
Abstract: Abstract As a renewable energy source, the use of forest biomass for electricity generation is advantageous in comparison with fossil fuels; however, the activity of forest biomass power plants causes adverse impacts, affecting particularly neighbouring communities. The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of the activity of forest biomass power plants on the welfare of two groups of stakeholders, namely local residents and the general population. To this end, we apply two stated preference methods: contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments, respectively. The former method was applied to estimate the minimum compensation residents of neighbouring communities of two forest biomass power plants in Portugal would be willing to accept. The latter method was applied among the general population to estimate their willingness to pay to avoid specific environmental impacts. The results show that the presence of the selected facilities affects individuals’ well-being. On the other hand, in the discrete choice experiments conducted among the general population all impacts considered were valued, in particular odour and fauna and flora impacts. The results of this study stress the importance of performing an equity analysis of the welfare effects on different groups of stakeholders from the installation of forest biomass power plants, as their effects on welfare are location and impact specific. Policy makers should take into account the views of all stakeholders either directly or indirectly involved when deciding crucial issues regarding the sitting of new forest biomass power plants, in order to achieve an efficient and equitable outcome.
Keywords: Forest biomass; Stated preference methods; Contingent valuation; Discrete choice experiments; Environmental impacts; Public attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Working Paper: Using stated preference methods to assess environmental impacts of forest biomass power plants in Portugal (2015)
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Anabela Botelho, Lina Lourenço-Gomes, Ligia Pinto, Sara Sousa and Marieta Valente (mvalente@eeg.uminho.pt)
Additional contact information
Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2016, vol. 18, issue 5, 1323-1337
Abstract: Abstract As a renewable energy source, the use of forest biomass for electricity generation is advantageous in comparison with fossil fuels; however, the activity of forest biomass power plants causes adverse impacts, affecting particularly neighbouring communities. The main objective of this study is to estimate the effects of the activity of forest biomass power plants on the welfare of two groups of stakeholders, namely local residents and the general population. To this end, we apply two stated preference methods: contingent valuation and discrete choice experiments, respectively. The former method was applied to estimate the minimum compensation residents of neighbouring communities of two forest biomass power plants in Portugal would be willing to accept. The latter method was applied among the general population to estimate their willingness to pay to avoid specific environmental impacts. The results show that the presence of the selected facilities affects individuals’ well-being. On the other hand, in the discrete choice experiments conducted among the general population all impacts considered were valued, in particular odour and fauna and flora impacts. The results of this study stress the importance of performing an equity analysis of the welfare effects on different groups of stakeholders from the installation of forest biomass power plants, as their effects on welfare are location and impact specific. Policy makers should take into account the views of all stakeholders either directly or indirectly involved when deciding crucial issues regarding the sitting of new forest biomass power plants, in order to achieve an efficient and equitable outcome.
Keywords: Forest biomass; Stated preference methods; Contingent valuation; Discrete choice experiments; Environmental impacts; Public attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations Track citations by RSS feed
Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-016-9795-6 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
Related works:
Working Paper: Using stated preference methods to assess environmental impacts of forest biomass power plants in Portugal (2015)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.
Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text
Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:endesu:v:18:y:2016:i:5:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9795-6
Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10668
Access Statistics for this article
Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development is currently edited by Luc Hens
More articles in Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development from Springer
Series data maintained by Sonal Shukla (sonal.shukla@springer.com).
For further details log on website :
http://econpapers.repec.org/article/sprendesu/v_3a18_3ay_3a2016_3ai_3a5_3ad_3a10.1007_5fs10668-016-9795-6.htm
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