Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
must be designed to support the acquisition of skills that are necessary to
fully harness the job creation opportunities embedded in the wind power
technology supply chain.
10.2.8 Social Factor 8: Agricultural Sector Structure
here is considerable evidence that the structure of a nation's agricultural
sector can inluence support for wind power development. Wind power proj-
ects engender much higher levels of public acceptance when local farmers
can invest in wind power projects, either individually or as part of a commu-
nity cooperative. his largely explains rural support for wind power devel-
opment in Denmark, Germany, and more recently, in the United States. In
fact, research indicates that the mere opportunity to invest in a community
wind power project can engender support for a project, even from commu-
nity members who do not decide to invest. 16 Conversely, evidence from both
Germany and Denmark indicates that wind power development policy that
centers on the proliferation of large-scale, corporately owned wind farms
tends to foster community opposition.
he obvious lesson for policymakers and project developers is to ensure
that mechanisms exist to enable individuals or community groups to inan-
cially beneit from the projects and to ensure that local contractors enjoy
a preferred standing in regard to providing supply chain support for wind
projects that are constructed in the community.
10.2.9 Social Factor 9: Environmental Impact of Energy Mix
he case studies reveal useful insights into the relationship between the
environmental impact of a nation's chosen energy mix and public atti-
tudes toward energy. he main tenet is that when externalities associated
with energy technologies are more visible, public opposition toward the
ofending technology is enhanced. In regard to wind systems, this can be
a double-edged sword. On the one hand, in communities that host nuclear
power plants or where the particulate matter emitted from coal-ired power
plants is a visible blight, one can expect enhanced support for wind power
development provided that the development actually helps attenuate the
visible environmental threat. On the other hand, the sudden appearance
of wind turbines can be seen as a deilement of the aesthetics of a com-
munity. In many industrialized nations, conventional electricity plants are
built with technologies which minimize visible pollution and are tucked
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