Audience: Frontline Communities

From September to November 2025, GoodPower’s Good Data Lab fielded a survey of households within 3 miles of battery energy storage system (BESS) projects in Arizona. This survey aimed to understand BESS neighbors’ support for and views about the projects as well as their community needs and concerns. They found that people do not know much about BESS. Despite this limited knowledge, there is moderate support for BESS among neighbors, although many were unaware of the projects near them. People were concerned about the fire risk of BESS, but providing them with basic information about BESS fire safety helps to alleviate some of this concern. Respondents also found messaging related to grid reliability, boosting renewables, and cost savings potential of BESS to be the most convincing, although all message frames shown to participants were convincing. While traditionally resistant audiences like conservatives have lower support for BESS and more negative views of living near it, they were convinced by pro-BESS messaging. The findings suggest there is an opportunity to get ahead of opposition messaging to educate and communicate about BESS, its risks, and its benefits.

Up your impact this session and learn advanced techniques for educating policymakers, drawn from a comprehensive review of research.

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Maximize impact this legislative session with the Lab’s training on the most effective evidence-based ways to influence legislators and other policy makers.

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