Developing Positive Community Relations Through Informal Networking

Abstract

Positive, or at least neutral, community perceptions about, and reactions toward, geothermal development activities are desirable and necessary from exploration permit acquisition through the life of a project. Developing an informal network of contacts throughout the impacted and adjacent communities with which to initiate and maintain meaningful dialogue and feedback can be a valuable tool toward this end. The effectiveness of this tool is related to the degree of honesty and sincerity of all parties involved. The degree of honesty, sincerity , and openness is, in turn, dependent upon the amount of trust shared by parties, and the willingness to work toward resolution of conflicts or potential conflicts. In some instances, substantial time and repeated good fait contacts are the only available means for increasing trust. In other instances, mutually exclusive goals preclude agreement.