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Exploring and Contextualizing Public Opposition to Renewable Electricity in the United States

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  • Benjamin K. Sovacool

    (Energy Governance Program, Centre on Asia and Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, 469C Bukit Timah Road, 259772, Singapore)

Abstract

This article explores public opposition to renewable power technologies in the United States. It begins by discussing the genesis of environmental ethics, or how some Americans have come to place importance on the protection of the environment and preservation of species, ecosystems, and the biosphere. As result, renewable power systems have become challenged on ethical and environmental grounds and are occasionally opposed by local communities and environmentalists. The article finds that, however, such concern may be misplaced. Renewable electricity resources have many environmental benefits compared to power stations fueled by coal, oil, natural gas, and uranium. Opposition towards renewable resources can at times obscure the true costs and risks associated with electricity use and entrench potential racial and class-based inequalities within the current energy system.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin K. Sovacool, 2009. "Exploring and Contextualizing Public Opposition to Renewable Electricity in the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:1:y:2009:i:3:p:702-721:d:5796
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wustenhagen, Rolf & Wolsink, Maarten & Burer, Mary Jean, 2007. "Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 2683-2691, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Enevoldsen, Peter & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2016. "Examining the social acceptance of wind energy: Practical guidelines for onshore wind project development in France," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 178-184.
    3. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Lakshmi Ratan, Pushkala, 2012. "Conceptualizing the acceptance of wind and solar electricity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5268-5279.
    4. Susskind, Lawrence & Chun, Jungwoo & Gant, Alexander & Hodgkins, Chelsea & Cohen, Jessica & Lohmar, Sarah, 2022. "Sources of opposition to renewable energy projects in the United States," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
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    9. Moragues-Faus, Ana M. & Ortiz-Miranda, Dionisio, 2010. "Local mobilisation against windfarm developments in Spanish rural areas: New actors in the regulation arena," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4232-4240, August.
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    12. Jesse D. Young & Nathaniel M. Anderson & Helen T. Naughton, 2018. "Influence of Policy, Air Quality, and Local Attitudes toward Renewable Energy on the Adoption of Woody Biomass Heating Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-24, October.
    13. Uzair Jamil & Joshua M. Pearce, 2022. "Energy Policy for Agrivoltaics in Alberta Canada," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-31, December.
    14. Jacqueline Hettel Tidwell & Abraham Tidwell & Steffan Nelson & Marcus Hill, 2018. "SolarView: Georgia Solar Adoption in Context," Data, MDPI, vol. 3(4), pages 1-12, December.
    15. Mahmure Övül Arıoğlu Akan & Ayşe Ayçim Selam & Seniye Ümit Oktay Fırat & Merve Er Kara & Semih Özel, 2015. "A Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Use and Policies: Global and Turkish Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(12), pages 1-29, December.
    16. Aklin, Michaël, 2021. "Do high electricity bills undermine public support for renewables? Evidence from the European Union," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    17. Pascaris1, Alexis S. & Schelly, Chelsea & Rouleau, Mark & Pearce, Joshua M., 2021. "Do Agrivoltaics Improve Public Support for Solar Photovoltaic Development? Survey Says: Yes!," SocArXiv efasx, Center for Open Science.
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