Stakeholder Relations

Your company has identified a regional market for electricity, and has found a site for a wind project by identifying a “crossroad” of electric transmission and natural gas lines and favorable climactic conditions. For the right price, the site is yours.

What’s next? Most successful siting strategies start with a careful stakeholder analysis. Once an appropriate site has been identified, developers must determine who might decide to take a role in their project and what their position will be.

Next, developers might conduct a stakeholder risk assessment if significant potential opposition exists. The risk assessment asks – and tries to answer – one essential question: can these opponents delay or defeat your project? The assessment also analyzes the potential for these groups to enlist the support of statewide or national organizations that have the expertise to turn your project into a well-publicized “David-and-Goliath” story for major newspapers or television.

The third step in a successful siting program involves developing a stakeholder relations plan. Most community members will keep an open mind about new projects for a short time. To maintain that support, electricity generators must learn to anticipate potential opposition, build momentum and set the agenda for public discussion of their facilities.

The Terra Group has designed stakeholder relations programs for:

Baltimore Gas and Electric Company

CAES Development Company

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company

Indianapolis Power and Light

Toledo Edison

Wisconsin Energy Company

InterGen (Brazil, Spain)