CIGR REPORT WG 37.

13

"Environmental Aspects of Links

between Power System Planners
and Decision Makers in the Energy
Area"
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WG 37.13 are...

Mr. Astolfi
France
Mr. Maliszewski USA
Mr. Casazza
USA
Mr. Mihaileanu Romania
Mr. Collins
England & Wales
Mr. Murphy
Canada
Mr. Englund
Sweden (conv.)
Mr. Papazoglou Greece
Mrs. Fornari de Ary Pires Brazil

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Mr. Pelegry
Mr. Goncalves
Mr. Rollinson
Mr. Hepburn
Mr. Salvaderi
Mr. Hrknen
Mr. Smith
Mr. Ho Jung
Mr. Tcksberg

Spain
Portuga
Australia
South Afric
Italy
Finland
Ireland
Korea
Sweden (secr.)

Scope of Work

CIGR WG 37.13 has through the exchange of

experiences and analyses suggested measures in order to
further improve the communication on environmental
issues between Decision Makers and the General Public on
one hand and Power System Planners on the other.

CIGR WG 37.13 is a continuation of WG 37.09, which

focused on the general communication between Decision
Makers and Power System Planners.

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Case studies

Brofjorden 360 MW

Power Plant

Baltic cable 600 MW

HVDC link.

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Specific observations

France: EDF set up a formal framework

for co-ordination prior to major decisions.
Italy: Lack of coordinated legislation
may have very negative impacts not only
for the energy supply industry as such, but
for the environment as well. International
legislation should be sought.
Spain: The new legislation concerning
air, water and residues imposes conditions
that imply high investment costs for the
company.
Ireland: In spite of significant
contributions to cushion the local
community against the effects , there is a
local "anti-ESB" feeling reg. the project.

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Portugal: EIA was not considered to

have a beneficial effect locally, but.
proved useful in terms of getting a permit
from the Ministry of Environment.
Greece: The case study strongly implies
the importance of involving local parties.
England/Wales: Trying to rush things
has the potential of increasing the risk of
creating deep and lasting conflicts.
Brazil: The strategy was to initiate
contacts with community leadership
through different community
associations and the the Catholic and
Baptist Churches.
England, Wales: The privatisation has
made the task more difficult.

General observations

Environmental communication skills do not differ significantly from

communicating the benefits of a project as such.
Trend towards greater involvement in project assessment
One-way communication are being replaced by dialogue
The framework of an Environmental Impact Assessment
It is still too early to judge the success of this increased involvement
Attitudes to projects often remained highly polarized.

This fact reflects that however well planned the communicative process
may be, any project requires
a strong and sustainable political support
a well performed application process in line with existing legal frameworks.

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Trends

A growing internationalisation in the area

i.e. legislation, arguments deployed by organised objector groups.

Revised legislation
increasing difficulties in siting &increasing environmental costs.

Greater efforts to communicate.

Higher degree of certainty in showing the necessity of a project.

Increasingly detailed EIAs at an early stage of the project.

the dialogue is made more constructive.
Consultations regarding the scope of the EIA will help.

New concepts
Joint Implementation schemes in the assessment processes.
move towards decentralised decisions regarding environment (Agenda 21).

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Conflict management

Public opposition is the strongest where the influence of

any project is most obvious and the perceived benefits the
least.
Identify conflicts that can be solved through information where
possible.
Conflicts may in some cases be balanced by developing local
benefits
cases where differences between an applicant, local interests and
amenity environmental bodies cannot be resolved. In these cases,
the project may be subject to political enquiry or legal procedures.

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Communication skills

Consultation with and information to all parties concerned

must be done at an early stage.
Experience show that it is vital to maintain the initiative in
the communicative process
Media: Good relations are desirable but difficult to obtain.
Influential groups: should be identified, informed, consulted and
lobbied continuously.
Organised opposition groups: large influence on the debate, and
in forming a political and public view
General public: respect and straight forwardness, provide correct
information

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Communication skills, contd

Increasingly important that information incorporates a

dialogue
special information for each target group.
local values and to identify issues of current debate.
Building up confidence is a resource and time consuming process
which can be destroyed quickly.

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Long Term Strategies

Monitor developments and trends in environmental

legislation
predict future requirements.
provides a basis for influencing political decisions and new
legislation.

Regular dialogue with local and regional authorities,

identified decision makers and key advisors.
In many countries no such long term environment work
exists.
Attention should be given to the NIMEY concept

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Experiences gained

One-way communication and public

information are being replaced by dialogue
more and more often within the framework
of an Environmental Impact Assessment.
France, Portugal: A consistent approach local parties are treated as necessary
business partners for the project (socioeconomic spin off effects on the local
economy, local man-power, local
manufacturing)
France:Educational programmes for the
public ( visits to existing power plants,
videos and brochures displayed in schools)
England, Wales: An open house
approach (no public meetings), visit at any
time, have one-to-one conversations

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Portugal: local communications centre was

built well in advance, to which people were
invited.
Italy: a special committee is actively coordinating the views of the ESI and
informing authorities.
US: Involve a third party - ie. a
University team - to work out possible
routes for the proposed line, and hold public
work shops
US: PC presentation programmes were developed for community leaders and
government officials to communicate the
importance of the project. Cont. info
distributed directly to news-media,
government officials, business and
community leaders and to the general
public at large.

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Continued work

Follow up on case studies

New approach through Internet

Announcement for Electra

Joint implementation
Externalities

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Report structure

SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS REGARDING THE
ENVIRONMENTAL THINKING OF COMPANIES
BUILDING UP CONFIDENCE
IDENTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
CONFLICTS
COMMUNICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
EXPERIENCES GAINED

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EIA

All case studies describes EIA as a requirement in

connection with the siting and permit processing of energy
production plants.
It has not been possible to compare the scope of the EIAs.
A carefully considered, early prepared EIA has in several
cases been found to make the dialogue on the other more
constructive.
The dialogue and the consultations regarding the scope of
the EIA which is becoming a requirement will assist.
(A brief summary on the environmental legislation of the countries concerned,
including the decision making process, etc, is given in appendix)

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