Stakeholder Relations Research for Pinedale, Wyoming

Abstract

Pinedale, Wyoming, a town of 1,500 located in western Wyoming’s Sublette County, is facing important decisions regarding sustainable development. Natural gas production has increased rapidly over the last decade, raising concerns about how to balance gas development with environmental preservation. This report assesses public perception of and opinions about gas exploration and production and other types of development with respect to environmental preservation. Our goal was to identify these issues, understand the possible causes, and present recommendations and solutions to alleviate these issues. Stakeholder interviews, background research, and two surveys (one of Pinedale residents and another, identical survey targeted nationally) revealed the importance of responsible residential and gas development. Our results suggest that Pinedale residents are amenable to compromises that take into account economic, environmental, and quality-of-life factors to achieve a balance between development and environmental protection.