[pp.129-138]

Effects of Citizen-Owned Power Generation on Residents’ Consciousness: Case Study in Iida City, Japan

Nobuo SHIRAI, Kazukiyo HIGUCHI and Akihiro TOKAI （ Hosei University / Shinshu University / Osaka University）

Abstract:
Iida City in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is an environmentally advanced municipality that terms itself an “environment-conscious city”. Iida City has a pioneering scheme of citizen-owned power generation in which photovoltaic panels paid for by citizens are installed on the roofs of public facilities. We have studied the effects of citizen-owned power generation on the environmental consciousness of the residents of Iida city by means of a survey conducted by questionnaire. Two points emerged: citizen-owned power generation has had a greater effect on the residents than other environment-related measures implemented in Iida City; and citizen-owned power generation has had an effect on citizens’ opinions of photovoltaic generation, resulting in a greater intention on their behalf to install photovoltaic generation equipment. The citizen-owned power generation project in Iida City has affected many of the city’s residents not only through their funding of the project, but also through environmental education projects based on the installed photovoltaic generation equipment. Since projects to popularize photovoltaic generation projects are being promoted throughout Japan, it is expected that projects such as the citizen-owned power generation project of Iida City could have a marked effect on the environmental consciousness of residents.

Key Word:
citizen-owned power generation, photovoltaic generation, residents' consciousness, Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, questionnaire survey

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