Social Energy as a Potential Source of Funding for Energy Projects in North American States: Data Analysis and Statistical Inference

This article presents an innovative financing model for renewable energy proj-ects, specifically for small and medium-sized local communities, leveraging crowdfunding, also known as social energy. This concept, studied for over two decades across various fields like sustainable development and finance, is explored as a way to strengthen investment in these communities. The study investigates the relationship between social energy and regional economic conditions, with a particular focus on North American states. Its find-ings aim to guide project developers and co-funders in making optimal decisions regarding the location and scale of projects. The analysis accounts for economic diversity and demographic trends, illustrating how regional variations influence the success of crowdfunding initiatives. The methodology is rooted in data analysis and statistical inference, includ-ing correlation and regression, to identify key economic variables. We used spatial analysis to pinpoint factors that either stimulate or inhibit investment. The results highlight significant correlations between social energy and eco-nomic conditions in different states. This information offers valuable insights for promoting small and medium-sized renewable energy projects in economically suitable areas. The article suggests that lessons from the U.S. context can be applied to other regions that foster social energy to cater to regional economic needs.