To drill or not to drill: determinants of geothermal energy project siting in Japan

Abstract

Geothermal energy is an important resource in the fight against climate change, but local siting issues often stand in the way. We analyze the socioeconomic determinants of the location of all geothermal drilling explorations in Japan from 1975 to 2014. Statistical analysis based on an original dataset shows that (1) municipalities with more hot springs inns than other municipalities are less likely to have a geothermal exploration, and (2) municipalities become more likely to have a geothermal exploration as their farming sector employment declines over time. We complement the statistical analysis with a qualitative case study of the politics of geothermal drilling in one Japanese hot springs town, showing how personal relationships on the local level can widen or narrow the structural 'green versus green' divide between hot springs inns and geothermal interests.

Mapping Green Communities New Data Resources for Measuring Grassroots Environmental Organizing in Japan

“…These crises cost Japan 0.14% of GDP from storms and floods, a two-fold increase compared to the preceding decade (0.07%) (Ritchie & Rose 2021). Yet some cities are rising to the challenge, reducing emissions at higher rates (Takao 2016;Fraser et al 2020;Fraser and Temocin 2021), adopting more renewable energy (Fraser 2020), aided by supportive mayors (Takao 2020, Hymans & Uchikoshi 2021, Fraser et al 2022, residents movements supporting wind and solar (Maruyama et al 2007;Ohira 2017), and…”