Author(s)

ROBERT L. MAHLER

Abstract

Most Idaho residents consider renewable electricity production and use important for Idaho’s future. Water has traditionally been responsible for producing the majority of Idaho’s electricity (hydropower). Idaho also has significant solar, wind and geothermal resources that can be increasingly used to generate renewable electricity. These sources have the potential to greatly expand renewable electricity production. Since Idaho’s population has more than doubled since 1980 – solar, wind and geothermal energy will have to be relied upon to further increase Idaho’s share of renewable electricity production. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate public attitudes and concerns about the future of renewable electricity production. A survey was developed in 1984 to determine public concerns and perceptions of expanding renewable electricity. The same survey was sent to over 3,000 random Idaho adults via the United States Postal Service (USPS) in 1984, 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2024. Compared to 1984, more Idahoans wanted an expansion of renewable electricity production in 2024 (78% vs. 43% in 1984). An expansion of electricity production using solar, wind and geothermal resources was favoured by 42%, 49% and 19% of Idahoans in 2024. The trends for the acceptances of these renewable energy resources have increased substantially since 1994. Important findings from this 40-year study included: (1) Idahoans want the expansion of both solar and wind power to improve the renewable electricity future of the state; (2) residents understand that hydropower expansion for the production of electricity in Idaho is not practical given the fast population growth and limited sites for additional large dams; (3) residents with more formal education were most likely to recognize the importance of increasing the production of renewable electricity; (4) females were more optimistic about increasing the importance of solar and wind energy to meet renewable electricity; (5) residents were concerned that fast population growth has the potential to short circuit the goal of providing 100% renewable electricity; and (6) newcomers to Idaho were less likely to be aware of the current renewable–non-renewable electricity mix. In summary, there is a large amount of public support to make Idaho’s electricity production sustainable in the not-to-distant future.

Keywords

public opinion, sustainable energy, hydropower, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy