Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
resource stocks inluence the structuring of the electricity sector? It may be
possible that combinations of variables are so highly correlated that they
should be considered as ineluctably bound, implying that changes to one
variable will result in predictable changes to another variable. Improved
understanding of the relationships between the 32 variables presented in
Chapter 10 would help to improve predictability in the face of change.
Fifth, can a set of variables be identiied which can be isolated to improve
wind power policy success? his study concluded that there were 32 vari-
ables which were demonstrated through the six case studies to inluence
wind power difusion. It is conceivable that relationships between some of
these variables are more inluential than others. For example, it appears
intuitively obvious from the case studies that dominant ideologies of politi-
cal groups, the extent to which externalities are internalized, electricity
sector structure, national aluence and community perspectives are ive
variables that seem to conlate to create a virtuous circle in certain nations.
Conditions favoring wind power are advanced if the dominant political
groups are pro-wind, policies exist that attempt to level the competitive
playing ield, the electricity sector is structured in a way to allow the gov-
ernment to better inluence development, citizens are able and willing to
pay higher electricity prices as externalities become internalized, and com-
munity perspectives are aligned in such a way to permit the establishment
of invasive wind turbines. his begs the question: if these ive factors alone
were tightly managed, would these ive forces be strong enough unto them-
selves to overcome impediments to wind power development caused by
adverse conditions in some of the other 27 variables?
Sixth, how will the repercussions of climate change-related disasters and
progressive fossil fuel price inlation inluence the energy policy STEP envi-
ronment? As the costs of climate change become clearer and the dangers
more pronounced, one can hypothesize that many of the sociocultural, eco-
nomic, and political impediments to wind power will diminish. Similarly,
if fossil fuel prices continue to increase in response to elevated demand
and dwindling supplies, the vested interests that have successfully stymied
a transition away from fossil fuel-ired power will be increasingly hard-
pressed to avoid disintegration of this advocacy regime. It may very well be
that further developments in regard to climate change and fossil fuel costs
will completely alter the dynamics of the STEP environment. More research
is needed to understand how progressive developments in these two areas
will impact the dynamics of the STEP environment.
Seventh, how will public perception evolve in a nation full of wind tur-
bines? Currently, wind power turbines are still a novelty in many nations.
For some host communities, the presence of a wind power farm is a symbolic
