Fighting the Information Gap and the Steam Monster, the Chilean Experience on Geothermal Outreach

Abstract

A 60 meter uncontrolled steam discharge was accidentally activated in El Tatio geyser field, one of the most popular touristic destinations in Chile, in 2009, during some tests in an old exploration well. Prior to this incident, geothermal energy was virtually unknown to the general public. As a result of this event, most of the press and people in the community called the event an ecological disaster and the perceived geothermal threat to the environment remains vivid in Chilean public opinion. Taking into account this complex scenario, the present work reviews and compares the different communication strategies that the public and private sector have developed to achieve public acceptance of geothermal as a reliable energy source in Chile, a country with an enormous, untapped geothermal potential.