Date of Award

Summer 8-22-2025

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Economics

First Committee Advisor

Sharon Klein

Second Committee Member

Caroline Noblet

Third Committee Member

Kathleen Bell

Abstract

This thesis examines how communities across Maine, including members of the Wabanaki Nations, perceive and prioritize various sustainable energy options. While sustainable energy encompasses a wide array of renewable energy, energy-efficient devices, and energy conservation, this research focuses specifically on two leading examples: solar energy and heat pumps. Informed by statewide climate goals and Tribal sovereignty considerations, the study explores the social, geographic, and institutional factors shaping local energy preferences and barriers to adoption. The research is grounded in community-based participatory research methods and draws on two original surveys: 1) co-developed with the Maine Sustainable Energy Team (a team of people from highlysocially vulnerable communities in Maine) and distributed to Maine communities statewide; 2) co-developed with the Wabanaki Sustainable Energy Team (a team of people from each Wabanaki Nation) and distributed to Wabanaki Nations. Quantitative analyses include descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and spatial analysis using GIS. Independent variables include age, education, income, environmental concern, and trust in government, while spatial overlays examine proximity to solar infrastructure and alignment with energy planning programs like the Maine Community Resilience Partnership, a program operated by the Maine Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.

Findings reveal that education, environmental motivation, and institutional trust significantly predict support for sustainable energy technologies. Regional disparities are evident, with respondents in Northern and Eastern Maine less likely to support solar on public land. Proximity to large-scale solar projects is associated with more neutral or negative sentiment, suggesting localized opposition when projects are not communitydriven. Wabanaki responses emphasize affordability, household resilience, and Tribal control, highlighting energy sovereignty as a core value. These insights offer policy relevance for state agencies, Tribal governments, and community organizations aiming to build equitable, participatory, and place-based energy transitions. By integrating behavioral, demographic, and spatial analysis, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of rural and Indigenous energy engagement in Maine.

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