Why Research Should Come Before Renewable Energy Engagement
But listening is only useful when it leads to action. Davies tracks recurring themes, verifies information and connects findings to specific outreach, messaging or issue-response strategies.
Turn Research Into Action
At Davies Public Affairs, research is not a standalone exercise. It is the foundation for action.
We use research to identify the right people to engage, develop messages that address local priorities, build relationships with potential supporters and prepare clients for the issues they are likely to encounter.
That can mean conducting targeted surveys, interviewing key stakeholders, mapping the local landscape or monitoring community conversations. The approach depends on the project and the questions that need to be answered.
Start Early
The best time to understand a community is before the public hearing, before opposition has organized and before positions have hardened.
Early research gives project teams the information they need to engage thoughtfully, respond to concerns and build meaningful relationships. It also gives supporters an opportunity to become informed and involved as the project moves forward.
At Davies, we believe research should do more than
tell you what a community thinks. It should tell you what to do next.
Every renewable energy project enters a community with its own history, stakeholders and concerns. Before developers begin communicating, they need to understand the environment they are entering.
That requires more than a generic market survey. Effective public affairs research combines surveys, stakeholder interviews, local listening and stakeholder mapping to identify the people, issues and questions that can shape a project's path forward.
Start With the Right Questions
Good research starts with a decision.
What do neighboring residents need to know? Which issues are most likely to influence the conversation? Which stakeholders should be engaged first? What questions need better answers?
The goal is not simply to measure sentiment. It is to give the project team information it can use to make better decisions about outreach, messaging and issue response.
Understand the People Behind the Project
Stakeholder mapping goes beyond building a contact list.
It identifies landowners, residents, elected officials, community organizations, businesses, local leaders and other people who may influence or be affected by a project. Understanding their relationships, concerns and level of knowledge helps determine who needs to be engaged, when they should be contacted and what information they need.
For renewable energy projects, that local context can be the difference between a communications strategy that looks good on paper and one that actually works in the community.
Listen for Issues Before They Become Problems
Public conversations are constantly changing.
Local news, public meetings, community organizations, social media and direct stakeholder conversations can reveal emerging questions or concerns. Monitoring those conversations gives project teams an opportunity to address issues early rather than reacting after a narrative has already taken hold.
But listening is only useful when it leads to action. Davies tracks recurring themes, verifies information and connects findings to specific outreach, messaging or issue-
response strategies.
LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT'S POSSIBLE
Whether you’re navigating a challenge, launching a project, or responding to pressure, we’re here to help you win. Not with theory—but with tested insight, a sharp message, and a team that’s all-in.
Contact us directly at info@daviespublicaffairs.com
Santa Barbara,CA
Los Angeles, CA
Washington, D.C.
805.963.5929
