About the Consortium
The Common Ground consortium aims to improve understanding of better practices in consent-based siting processes for critical infrastructure. Consent-based siting is “an approach to siting facilities that focuses on prioritizing the needs and concerns of people and communities” (DOE, 2023). What is learned from public conversations, research, and related work can inform process design for siting consolidated interim storage of spent nuclear fuel, the electric grid and power plants, hydrogen, as well as other types of critical infrastructure.
Led by Boise State’s Energy Policy Institute, Common Ground engages with communities and others in conversations to develop recommendations. We draw from historical and current lessons on siting and related policy. The consortium focuses on improving the processes of consent-based siting in discussion with communities, Tribes, industry, policymakers, and technical experts to co-produce input and guidance.
Major participants
We are one of twelve consortia, designated by the U.S. Department of Energy (see map). Each consortium focuses on its uniquely proposed area of inquiry. Common Ground is a collaboration of eight universities and the National Tribal Energy Association (NTEA), with additional cross-sectoral partners from government, industry and academia. This ‘networked learning’ hub includes Arizona State, Boise State, Colorado State, Idaho State, Montana State, University of Idaho, University of Wyoming, & University of Michigan plus NTEA. Additional partners include the National Association of State Energy Officials, Nuclear Energy Institute, Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition, Western Interstate Energy Board, and Institute for Inclusive and Transformative Scholarship to ensure that State, industry, and key groups are factored.
Partnering with communities and subject matter experts
Common Ground aims to build on lessons learned from historical and current experience with public engagement tied to critical infrastructure. By design, this project focuses on providing recommendations to the U.S. Department of Energy on consent-based siting processes and is not asked to designate a location or community for siting. In this 2 year project, we aim to have frank discussions and to learn with as well as from the public and subject matter experts that want to contribute to better understanding of consent-based siting. From this, we will develop general briefings that will be presented in public forums and writing. Quoting of individuals will only be done with their permission.
Based on our geographic proximity, aim for a diverse range of communities and practicality, discussions with communities have occurred around Idaho and Colorado on what good process design should include for consent-based siting of critical infrastructure. Points of preliminary feedback are broadly summarized here – Preliminary Feedback.
Seed Grant Program
Deadline: Currently closed Â
We established seed grant programming for the US to support research and/or public discussions to learn about and foster consent-based processes tied to critical infrastructure. Â
This program is supported by the Common Ground consortium, a community network of universities and a national tribal organization plus public and private sector partners. Common Ground focuses on mutual learning to provide feedback to the U.S. Department of Energy on ways to improve consent-based processes.
Existing Awardees/Under Negotiation
Awardees thus far will advance understanding of consent-based siting across sectors and types of critical infrastructure.Â
Utah State University will be awarded ~$80,000 to investigate how community health and wellbeing can be integrated into community engagement and consent-based siting for future energy infrastructure projects in coal-dependent communities in Utah’s Carbon and Emery counties.
Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF) will be awarded ~$135,000 to address consent in the mining sector. Partnering with the Alaska Mining Impacts Network (AKMIN), ACF will investigate the decision-making implications of consent vs. consultation and host a conference, bringing together AKMIN participants, mining impacts advocates, and agency staff.Â
Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. (ORAU) is in negotiation for ~$40,000 to support the development of a community tool that will highlight energy trade-offs for community benefits and costs, facilitate diverse stakeholder engagement, and support modeling options in energy transitions. It will tailor insights to community priorities, offering clear, customizable data to balance local needs with project outcomes.
The above proposals were chosen for their clear potential and valuable approaches to make significant contributions in the area of consent-based siting.
Methods
The project adopts a strategy to improve approaches to consent and participatory decision-making for different kinds of people and communities across geography, experience, and sector. It utilizes the qualitative strengths of interviewing/case analysis/historical record review for briefings, with geospatial modeling of siting considerations. Mutual gains approaches and ethnographic observation, Delphi ranking and pairwise comparisons may be used in discussions.
Special Speaker Series on Permitting and Siting
Decision-making and Engagement for Used Nuclear Fuel/Nuclear Waste
October 4th, 2024 12pm MT
- Dr. Thomas Webler, founding member and Senior Research Fellow, Social and Environmental Research Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Views from Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairs on Permitting and Siting for Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel
December 9th, 2024 1pm MT
- Allison Macfarlane, Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia; and and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Richard Meserve, President Emeritus of the Carnegie Institution for Science; and former Chair of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Senior counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Covington and Burling, LLP
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Engaging Communities when Siting and Permitting Energy Facilities
February 21st, 2025 11am MT
- Larry Susskind, MIT, Harvard Program on Negotiation, Consensus Building Institute
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Consent-based Siting of Nuclear Facilities in the US: Insights from National Consortia
March 20th, 2025 1pm MT
- Lisa Marshall, President, American Nuclear Society; Extension Assistant Professor, Director of Outreach, Retention & Engagement – North Carolina State University
- Jim Olson, Sr. Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
- Megan Harkema, Assistant Project Manager for Consent-based Siting Research – Vanderbilt University
- Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Register for the Mar. 20th Power Talk here
The Nuclear Waste Policy Act & Other Rules across Jurisdictions for Siting a Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Used Nuclear Fuel
April 25th, 2025 1pm MT
- Temple Stoellinger, Associate Dean and Assoc Professor, Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources/University of Wyoming College of Law
- Moderator: Dr. Kathy Araújo, Director, CAES Energy Policy Institute, and Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation and Policy, Boise State University
Anticipated Outcomes of the Consortium
- A network-of-networks consisting of people wanting to engage
in forward thinking tied to consent-based siting of critical infrastructure - Articles & briefings for communities, policymakers & industry
- A knowledge repository/training/tools for consent-based decision-making
- Improved understanding across geography, experience and sector from different forms of knowledge-holders
- Identification of better practices
- Potential to restore confidence with shared problem-solving
- More informed training and writing
This webpage will be periodically updated. Last update: January 3, 2025.
