Third-party information providers and innovative environmental technology adoption

This article explores the role of third-party information providers in assi sting regulated facilities with environmental compliance technology choices . A key contribution is the finding that regulated facilities that rely mor e heavily on environmental consultants than in-house information sources ch oose conventional compliance options more frequently than facilities relyin g primarily on in-house information. Consultants also perceive environmenta l regulatory barriers to technology change as being significantly higher th an regulated facilities do. Whereas consultants are primarily concerned wit h environmental regulatory barriers to technology adoption, facilities are primarily concerned with financial barriers. The findings suggest that the biases of consultants and their importance in shaping technology choice dec isions should be considered in designing policies to promote environmental technology adoption.