1 Experiencing citizen deliberation over energy infrastructure siting: a mixed method evaluative study Patrick Devine-Wright* and Matthew Cotton** *University of Exeter **University of Sheffield Draft version of chapter forthcoming in Bouzarovski, S., Pasqualetti M. and Castan Broto V. (eds) Research Companion to Energy Geographies (Routledge, Abingdon) Introduction Partly in response to the threat of climate change, energy infrastructures are in flux. In developed countries, policies to reduce carbon emissions are leading to widespread changes to centralised systems of energy provision, which in turn impact upon particular landscapes and communities. This relates to a central theme of this book, which applies geographical frameworks to study multiple facets of security, sustainability, space and place as they relate to energy. Our focus is upon the high voltage overhead transmission lines (hereafter HVOTLs) that connect new nuclear and large-scale renewable energy projects to the grid and that frequently stimulate strong objections from affected communities. Organisations that manage grid infrastructure - transmission system operators (hereafter TSOs) – for example National Grid Plc. in the UK, have sought to lessen objections and increase community acceptance through a range of measures, including earlier consultation with local communities and proposals to distribute community funds. This chapter addresses the ways that communities engage with local proposals to site HVOTLs. In particular, we evaluate the experiences of citizens that took part in a two-day deliberative engagement workshop that was instigated by the authors, as part of a research project, in a town in South West England directly affected by a power- line siting proposal. Our aim was to trial a method that up to now has rarely been used by grid companies to engage with communities, with the aim of better understanding how participants felt about taking part in energy infrastructure deliberations, and in doing so, to make recommendations both for future research and for grid companies about the potential value of and role for this method of engagement in future siting contexts. To evaluate participant experiences, we used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods including in-workshop surveys and interviews conducted six months after the workshop concluded. In terms of outcomes, the research aimed to capture whether participation fostered social learning, as evidenced by changes in opinions about the proposals, or wider beliefs about planning and energy technologies, and led to commitments to adopt new practices. In terms of process, the research aimed to capture participants’ views on the workshop overall and specific elements within it. We adopt Rowe and Frewer’s (2000) typology of engagement types, identified by the flow of information occurring between the parties and by its significance in decision- making processes. Communication involves one-way information flow from the sponsor (typically a government organisation or private company) to publics, who are simply informed of decisions with little or no influence upon these. Consultation