Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
to exhibit diminished growth potential due to social resistance if these
concerns cannot be adequately addressed. In an underdeveloped market,
wind power project developers have relatively unfettered rein in terms of
site selection. Typically, this results in developers pursuing a strategy of pri-
oritizing development of sites that possess the three attributes of technical
attractiveness (overall wind quality and development costs, proximity to the
electric grid and community acceptance). As the most attractive sites are
developed, developers will be increasingly forced to consider development
of sites that may be more socially contentious. 34 Social opposition can turn
an economically beneicial wind power project into a political hot potato
that can undermine completion of the project in question and inluence
prospects for future developments.
Research indicates that social impediments to wind power development
fall under two broad themes—concerns over impairment of existing com-
munity endowments and concerns over impairment of existing ecosystems.
Consequently, this chapter proceeds by sequentially addressing both of
these themes and translating existing knowledge to applied policy insight.
2.5 IMPAIRMENT OF EXISTING COMMUNITY ENDOWMENTS
Community opposition to wind power projects is widely known by the acro-
nym NIMBY (“not in my back yard”). Reasons for opposing wind projects
are varied. For example, in a survey related to a proposed wind energy proj-
ect in Cape Cod in the United States, eight justiications for opposition were
uncovered. Responding stakeholders were concerned about adverse impacts
on aesthetics, community harmony, the local ishing industry, pleasure
boating, property values, bird life, marine life, and tourism. 35 Accordingly,
developing efective community opposition mitigation strategies requires
awareness of the varied motivations for opposition to a given project. 36
A  starting point for enhanced understanding of community concerns is
through public outreach initiatives (surveys, town hall meetings, etc.) to
identify the nature of community concerns.
2.5.1 Separating Perception from Fact
A signiicant amount of research exists that suggests community concerns
regarding wind energy projects are based more on perception than fact. 37
Concerns over turbine noise, shadow licker, and threats to birdlife are not
conclusively supported by actual data. 38 Moreover, in scenic areas there is a
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