Public Engagements with Pipelines
Oil and gas pipelines have become a new front-line in fights against energy extraction. Pipelines are interesting research sites for scholars of environmental health, social movements, and technology studies. From a transparency perspective, pipeline projects are worth studying as they are also characterized by extreme information asymmetries. Communities often learn about a pending pipeline long after permits are approved and construction begins. This research project seeks to understand the circumstances from which information transparency efforts emerge, how they fill critical knowledge gaps, and the ways in which they can rearrange power dynamics in energy justice debates.
Helium Extraction in Arizona
Many future-oriented industries have become dependent on helium gas, such as for space exploration, making microchips, and running superconductors. However, global supplies of this rare-earth element are also in fast decline. Recent discoveries in northeast Arizona have some calling our state the new “Saudi Arabia” of helium. However, getting to this helium will require modern drilling processes known as matrix acidizing and acid fracturing, perceived by many as posing a risk to the environment and public health. This project investigates emerging debates and works with community partners in research projects aimed at expanding opportunities for public engagement in environmental governance.
Electronic Monitoring for Sustainable Fisheries
A variety of stakeholder organizations across institutional boundaries are active in the promotion of sustainable fisheries and fisheries management, including academic, governmental, industry, and non-profit groups. Some of these organizations work collaboratively while others tend towards more adversarial relationships. In this research, we conduct qualitative research and social network analysis study to examine stakeholders engaged in the issue of electronic monitoring, now being implemented through Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies (groundfish) Fisheries Management Plan (FMP).
Civic Science, Gas Leaks and Geothermal Heat
This study is organized around three research objectives that weave together concerns for natural gas leaks, civic science, and just transition: 1) Traditional public participation in utility governance is limited to public comments permitting stages, and individual complaints to companies. What are other forms of public participation that could complement a restorative justice to approaches to energy insecurity and a just transition? 2) Can Civic Science enable residents, in particular residents who are low-income and/or people of color, to have greater agency in their city’s transition to clean energy, including increasing their oversight of existing gas infrastructure? 3) GeoMicroDistricts (GMDs) are a novel geothermal district heating technology with the potential to reduce carbon emissions and lower energy cost with fewer environmental health and safety impacts. Can the implementation of GMD pilots also advance energy justice?