‘Green On Green’: Public perceptions of wind power in Scotland and Ireland

TLDR

The wind energy debate is a new environmental controversy that divides environmentalists and highlights the need for strategic, planning‑led approaches to windfarm development. The study tests three counter‑intuitive hypotheses about local attitudes toward windfarms: post‑construction favourability, proximity‑based acceptance, and the inadequacy of the NIMBY syndrome. Case studies of public attitudes toward existing and proposed windfarm developments in Scotland and Ireland were used to evaluate these hypotheses. All three hypotheses were supported, revealing that large majorities favour wind power, an inverse NIMBY effect where those with nearby farms are strong supporters, and that aesthetic perceptions are the strongest influence on attitudes.

Abstract

Abstract The wind energy debate represents a new kind of environmental controversy which divides environmentalists of different persuasions who attach contrasting priority to global and local concerns. Case studies of public attitudes towards existing and proposed windfarm developments in Scotland and Ireland are used to test three counter-intuitive hypotheses derived from previous attitudinal research. These are: (a) that local people become more favourable towards windfarms after construction; (b) that the degree of acceptance increases with proximity to them; and (c) that the NIMBY syndrome(not-in-my-back-yard) does not adequately explain variations in public attitudes. All three hypotheses are supported by this study. Large majorities favour wind power development in principle and in (local) practice. Although some aspects of NIMBY attitudes exist, the surveys reveal an 'inverse NIMBY' syndrome, whereby those with windfarms in their 'backyard' strongly support the technology. The research endorses the view that aesthetic perceptions, both positive and negative, are the strongest single influence on individuals' attitudes towards wind power projects. Comparison of the current institutional factors driving wind energy development with those during earlier eras of hydro-power development and large-scale afforestation emphasizes the need for strategic planning guidance. The potential for using a planning-led approach to windfarm developments by adopting 'Indicative Windfarm Strategies' is discussed.