REGIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM A Socioeconomic Assessment of Energy Development in a Small Rural County: Coal Gasification in Mercer County, North Dakota VolumeⅡ

摘要

This report describes in two volumes a case study and a methodology that are part of an analysis of the overall problem of energy-induced growth in rural America. The case study approach delineates economic (fiscal) and sociocultural effects and attempts to identify and understand the character of the key underlying causal factors. It also serves to validate and improve the methodology for future case studies.nVolume I of the report presents (1) an assessment of the major socioeconomic impacts associated with a single coal-gasification plant in Mercer County, North Dakota, and (2) describes an improved framework for conducting interdisciplinary assessments of socioeconomic impacts.