DELIBERATIVE POLLING CHOOSES WIND ENERGY

Employing deliberative polling to query energy company customers about their opinion of wind energy has revealed that customers want wind energy. And they want it even if it costs a bit more money. Two key polls were conducted in Texas and Nebraska; you will find the results below following a description of deliberative polling.

WHAT IS DELIBERATIVE POLLING?

Deliberative polling is a technique to determine informed public opinion. The essential question is: “What would the target population think if they were given an opportunity to read about, discuss, and ask questions concerning the issue under consideration?”

The key difference between deliberative polling and standard opinion polling is the difference between raw opinion and informed opinion. The key differences between deliberative polling and focus groups are the ability to educate participants more fully, to present balanced and verified information to participants, and to extrapolate results to larger populations.

HOW DOES DELIBERATIVE POLLING WORK?

The key elements of deliberative polling are:

1. Draw a scientific sample of the target population and gauge their raw opinion with a telephone survey questionnaire.

2. Recruit participants from the large telephone survey sample for a one- to two-day deliberation exercise.

3. Provide participants with balanced information presenting a range of options and all viewpoints on the issues under consideration. A broadly representative advisory committee oversees development of the questionnaire, the information provided to participants, and the town meeting.

4. Bring the participants together for the deliberation. Participants alternate between small groups led by professional moderators and large groups where they can question panels of experts.

5. At the end of the exercise, measure opinion of the sample again and compare before and after results.

6. Maintain contact with the sample for future and follow-up.

Read the reports in pdf form:

Listening to Customers: How Deliberative Polling Helped Build 1,000 MW of New Renewable Energy Projects in Texas

Nebraska Public Power District Customer Meeting on Energy Alternatives: Summary of Results

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