Memorandums of understanding and public trust in local government for Colorado's unconventional energy industry

In the fight between state versus local control in Colorado's unconventional energy industry, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed directly between operators and local governments are becoming an increasingly popular strategy for formally integrating citizen concerns into oil and gas development. Yet little is known about how these agreements may shape public opinion of industry and local government. This article uses mixed methods to investigate if and how MOUs shaped public perceptions of the industry and the town government in a politically heterogeneous suburban Colorado town home to the state's first MOU. While public comments have become significantly more favorable toward oil and gas development over time, our research reveals that the MOU itself did not significantly change those perceptions. The more significant factor was the election of a town board committed to processes of engagement and transparency, including a meaningful revision of the original MOU. - Highlights: • MOUs provide communities with a formal mechanism for shaping energy development. • Local governance focused on transparency was more significant than MOUs for changing public perception. • Public trust in government increased more than did public trust in industry. • MOUs may become more prevalent as a local supraregulatory policy tool.