Landowners' perceptions of and interest in bioenergy crops: Exploring challenges and opportunities for growing poplar for bioenergy

The success of bioenergy efforts will depend, in part, on interested, engaged, and informed landowners who are willing and equipped to grow the appropriate feedstocks. We surveyed landowners in Washington State to gain insight on their knowledge of and interest in bioenergy crops, with a special focus on growing hybrid poplar for bioenergy. The responses indicate that the majority of landowners surveyed are not familiar with bioenergy crops and almost half of the respondents are not interested in growing a bioenergy crop. The most important consideration for growing any type of crop is profit, followed by soil preservation and land conservation. Linear regression analysis showed that interest in growing bioenergy crops is correlated with the perceived importance of profit, tradition, soil preservation and a way to make money specifically from bioenergy crops in cropping decisions. An interest in growing bioenergy crops is the primary landowner attitude connected with the likelihood of growing a bioenergy crop and willingness to specifically grow poplar. The results suggest that increased education about bioenergy crops targeting certain types of landowners may generate greater interest and willingness to grow bioenergy crops, should a market develop. The study findings will help shape outreach efforts and communication with landowners about bioenergy crops, as well as provide increased understanding of the perceived challenges and advantages to growing bioenergy crops.