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.