Stakeholder Analysis Report Subtask 3.3 – CarbonSAFE Illinois East Sub-Basin Topical Report 8
Effective stakeholder engagement has been proven to be a critical component in the success of numerous CCS activities and is essential if the technology is to be widely developed in the future. This report contains a stakeholder assessment and highlights some engagement activities conducted during the CarbonSAFE Illinois East Sub-Basin Prefeasibility study. This report is intended to lay the groundwork and provide recommendations for the Wabash CarbonSAFE Feasibility project, currently underway in conjunction with the Wabash Valley Resources ammonia plant retrofit taking place at the former Terre Haute US DOE integrated gasification combined cycle plant. The analysis sets the stage for identifying and understanding the concerns of key stakeholders, describes actions currently underway, highlights perceptions of potential benefits and risks of project activities, and provides recommendations for short- and long-term forms of engagement. This study used social site characterization methods to better understand local and regional stakeholder positions and needs. The stakeholder engagement strategy will emphasize engagement with stakeholders that enable project development and those that are impacted by the project. The stakeholder analysis process can be broken down into the four basic steps of: identifying, analyzing, mapping, and prioritizing. Various stakeholders were identified by literature search, and additionally by a group of approximately twenty Indiana University SPEA master’s students via a stakeholder workshop. The stakeholder analysis and mapping process is used to help prioritize stakeholder engagement strategies; engagement strategies must be developed with particular stakeholder concerns in mind and messages tailored to those stakeholders’ needs. The stakeholder map with engagement strategy developed for this analysis suggests state government, industry, federal government, and state education are predicted to have the highest interest and influence and should be a priority focus in engagement. Local media, local landowners, local government, and utilities are predicted to have high influence but low interest and may also be a high priority group to engage. Environmental and economic impacts of activities that are considered to be important by stakeholders in the present day (key) or activities that have taken place in the past (legacy) can impact stakeholder perspectives and need to be considered when creating a stakeholder engagement strategy. The issue of environmental clean-up was identified in both the social media analysis and also through USEPA Environmental Justice analysis tools. Thus, it is clear this will be an important factor for consideration in any stakeholder engagement conducted in and around Terre Haute. Furthermore, stakeholder engagement education materials will need to emphasize that carbon dioxide is not a hazardous material, as well as address FAQs regarding CCS. In addition, recommendations for consideration when developing the stakeholder engagement strategy for projects in the Illinois East Sub-Basin in general and related to the Wabash CarbonSAFE project specifically include: drawing clear lines of responsibility between Wabash Valley Resources and ISGS-led Wabash CarbonSAFE that allow the projects to manage integration and messaging; the need for ISGS and other partners to maintain objectivity and remain trusted sources of information; monitoring of social media and continuing to engage with key stakeholder groups; and providing support for key stakeholders to become sources of project information and project champions.