AN ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROGRAM UTILIZING RENEWABLE ENERGY: TSUCHIYU HOT SPRINTG, FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE

Abstract

Small hydropower plant has been winning attention in Japan after 3.11 (Great East Japan Earthquake). This paper is aimed at analyzing impact of small hydropower plant on local economy using a project in Tsuchiyu Hot Spring in Fukushima Prefecture as a case. Tsuchiyu Hot Spring sustained damage caused by harmful rumors or misinformation after 3.11. To revitalize the deserted hot spring town, the local community decided to construct one small hydro power plant and a binary power plant. This paper analyzed what kind of impact these two renewable energy power plants brought to the hot spring site.