An integrated, renewable energy system with multiple benefits can have a positive resultant effect in the social fabric that supports such an endeavor. Communities with multi-system OTEC plants producing power, fresh water, air conditioning, and aquacultural and agricultural products can add to domestic product in the given locale, in addition to providing products for trade with other regions, and nations.

     Workers with many different skills would be needed to maintain OTEC systems and to work at aquaculture and agriculture plants nearby an OTEC facility. The fact that workers would be living and rasing families near a renewable energy system would have multiple cascade effects upon the perceived social fabric of a community. Industries such as shipbuilding, steel, and consumable products would benefits from such systems. Additionally, elimination of pollutants expelled from conventional fossil fuel systems would add to the general positive environmental status and could contribute towards an increase in quality of life. On tropical island communites, cost of water, air conditioning, and energy are large drains upon the working capital of these local economies. Finances could be freed up for usage in other areas of the economy.