Johnson Lab - Marine Renewable Energy Research
The Johnson Lab is interested in the human dimensions of marine renewable energy, including offshore wind and tidal power development.
We are currently starting a new, collaborative project aimed to improve decision-making related to offshore wind at key sites in the United States. Stay tuned!
Previously, with funding from the Sustainability Solutions Initiative and the Department of Energy, Dr. Johnson led the Maine Tidal Power Initiative (MPTI) human dimensions research to understand community concerns and potential social impacts related to tidal power. A key goal was to identify ways to effectively link knowledge to action between scientists and stakeholders, broadly including policy-makers, developers, and the communities interested or likely impacted by tidal power development.
Our work began with the sites furthest along in development; those being developed by the Ocean Energy Renewable Company (ORPC), which is focusing on the Western Passage and Cobscook Bay sites, the two best tidal energy sites identified on the East Coast of the U.S.
Select Publications
Hart, D., Bell, K., Lindenfeld, L., Johnson, T. R., Ranco, D. (2015). Strengthening the role of universities in addressing sustainability challenges: The Sustainability Solutions Initiative as an institutional experiment. Ecology and Society, 20(2):4. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-07283-200204
Johnson, T.R., Jansujwicz, J., & Zydlewski, G. (2015). Tidal power development in Maine: Stakeholder identification and perceptions of engagement. Estuaries and Coasts, 38(S1):266-278.
Jansujwicz, J.S., & Johnson, T.R. (2015). Understanding and informing permitting decisions for tidal power development in Maine. Estuaries and Coasts, 38(S1):253-265.
Teisl, M., McCoy, S., Marrinan, S., Noblet, C.L., Johnson, T., Wibberly, M., Roper, R., & Klein, S. (2015). Will offshore energy face ‘fair winds and following seas’?: Understanding the factors influencing marine energy acceptance. Estuaries and Coasts, 38(S1):279-286.
Jansujwicz, J.S., Johnson, T.R. (2014). The Maine Tidal Power Initiative: Transdisciplinary sustainability science research for the responsible development of tidal power. Sustainability Science, doi: 10.1007/s11625-014-0263-7.
Johnson, T., & Zydlewski, G.B. (2012). Research for the sustainable development of tidal power in Maine. Maine Policy Review, 21 (1):58-64.