Intensions from private households towards renewable energies are an important driver or barrier for the energy transition. Social acceptance in Jordan is crucial for further development of any kind of technology. With this research we aim to evaluate intension and acceptance of private households towards oil shale and renewable energy sources, while evaluating social acceptance factors, as well as perceptions of risks and benefits of both technologies. Our research also aims to address correlations between the level of awareness about both technologies, expectations of socio-economic benefits, and perceptions of risks (environmental, technical, social and economic), also including such factors as willingness to pay for electricity coming from various energy sources.