Abstract

This research explores peoples’ place attachment and context surrounding power production and energy futures. Facilitated, deliberative focus groups were conducted as comparative case studies in three fossil fuel-dependent cities in Saskatchewan Canada: Estevan (situated next to the provincial centers of coal, oil and gas production), Saskatoon (situated more northerly and furthest from coal, oil and gas production) and the capital city of Regina. (situated between the other two communities). This study supports the conclusions: (1) participants believed the focus groups improved their knowledge surrounding power production; (2) although there is strong support for wind and solar power production, there is a gap in implementation; and (3) place-based location impacts perceptions of power production sources. Participants were surveyed before and after focus group meetings to explore the perceptions and preferences of power productions sources. All three communities favored renewables in the order of solar and wind. Estevan, supported carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) to a greater degree and perceived much lower risk surrounding CCS than the other two communities. This may be explained by information gaps in this community. Participants were far less likely to believe a climate crisis is occurring, and while recognizing health concerns surrounding coal, they spent considerably more time discussing the loss of coal and its impact on their economy. Saskatoon, the community furthest from coal oil and gas production, spent considerable time discussing renewables, and when asked about coal, oil and gas identified the need to transition and retrain dependent workers. Although the uranium sector is present in Saskatchewan and in closer proximity to Saskatoon, there was little knowledge or support for new small modular nuclear reactors.

Graphic abstract

中文翻译：

---

加拿大萨斯喀彻温省的多元社区能源期货

摘要

这项研究探索了人们对电力生产和能源期货的场所依恋和背景。在加拿大萨斯喀彻温省的三个依赖化石燃料的城市中，进行了协商性的焦点​​小组比较案例研究：埃斯特万（Estevan）（位于省级煤炭，石油和天然气生产中心旁），萨斯卡通（位于北，距煤，石油最远的地方）和天然气生产）和首都里贾纳。（位于其他两个社区之间）。这项研究支持以下结论：（1）参与者认为焦点小组提高了他们对发电的知识；（2）尽管对风能和太阳能发电有强大的支持，但在实施方面仍存在差距；（3）基于地点的位置会影响对发电资源的感知。在焦点小组会议之前和之后对参与者进行了调查，以探讨电力生产来源的看法和偏好。这三个社区都按照太阳能和风能的顺序来支持可再生能源。Estevan在更大程度上支持碳捕集与封存（CCS），并认为与其他两个社区相比，CCS的风险要低得多。这可以通过该社区中的信息空白来解释。与会者不太可能相信正在发生气候危机，并且在认识到围绕煤炭的健康问题的同时，他们花费了更多的时间讨论煤炭的流失及其对经济的影响。萨斯卡通（Saskatoon），距离煤炭石油和天然气生产最远的社区，花费了大量时间讨论可再生能源，当被问及有关煤炭的问题时，石油和天然气确定了过渡和再培训依赖工人的需求。尽管萨斯喀彻温省和萨斯卡通附近有铀部门，但对新型小型模块化核反应堆的了解或支持很少。

图形摘要