Abstract |
This report describes the assumptions and behavior of a computer model designed to simulate the ''boom town'' impacts of locating large power plants near small, isolated communities. Individual equations and parameter estimates are shown to provide the following information needed to judge BOOM1's usefulness: list of factors not included in the model; causal influence diagrams of vicious circles which act to worsen boom town conditions; flow diagrams in the power plant, housing, public construction and municipal, finance, retail and services, and migration sectors; numerous plots of model variables over a time span encompassing the preboom, construction, and operation phases of boom town development; results of tests showing the sensitivity of the model to alternative estimates of parameters; results of illustrative policy simulations showing the effectiveness of front end money, public loan guarantees, and guaranteed loans to the retail and services investor; and list of potential applications of the model by national, state, local, and energy company officials. (ERA citation 02:017451) |