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Graduate Exit Seminar via Zoom - Ruchie Pathak

Plan to join via Zoom Ruchie Pathak's graduate exit seminar on Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Ruchie will present, "Sharing the Sun: Community Solar in Ohio."  

Abstract:

Community solar is considered an innovation in many energy systems because it allows users to take ownership in the energy they consume. A number of community, municipal and non-community (~private) owned solar projects have emerged recently all over the U.S. With several such projects in development stage, very little is known today regarding the development and social acceptance of these projects, especially for the state of Ohio. Thus, as an innovation, the diffusion of community solar projects in Ohio can be examined through the lens of diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, which states that the adoption of an innovation is dependent on factors like the characteristics of potential adopters, the attributes of the innovation itself and as well as the setting where the diffusion takes place. In this scenario, this exploratory research investigates the different reasons as to why a community adopts such renewable energy systems in order to clarify our understanding of the diffusion process. The research involves in-depth interviews with key informants, starting with the current managers of municipally owned/utility-owned solar projects, representatives from area businesses, industry, and community groups in three study sites located in Ohio.

Advisor: Dr. Jeffrey Jacquet