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A strong relative preference for wind turbines in the United States among those who live near them

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  • Jeremy Firestone

    (University of Delaware)

  • Hannah Kirk

    (University of Delaware)

Abstract

Studies on social acceptance of wind power projects typically evaluate wind power in isolation, or as a choice between wind and no wind. However, at a societal level, the choice is not limited to whether, how or where wind turbines should be sited, but whether society should generate electricity by wind or from some other source. Consequently, it is important to understand whether those living near local wind projects prefer them relative to other local power projects. Here, we show that approximately 90% of individuals in the United States who live within 8 km of a wind turbine prefer their local wind project to a centralized power plant sited a similar distance away. Wind is also preferred three to one over solar among the approximately two-thirds who have a preference. These results are relatively consistent across states with different characteristics, suggesting a strong social preference for wind turbines among their neighbours.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremy Firestone & Hannah Kirk, 2019. "A strong relative preference for wind turbines in the United States among those who live near them," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 311-320, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:4:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1038_s41560-019-0347-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-019-0347-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Pohl, Johannes & Rudolph, David & Lyhne, Ivar & Clausen, Niels-Erik & Aaen, Sara Bjørn & Hübner, Gundula & Kørnøv, Lone & Kirkegaard, Julia K., 2021. "Annoyance of residents induced by wind turbine obstruction lights: A cross-country comparison of impact factors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Baxter, Jamie & Ellis, Geraint & Wilson, Sara & McAteer, Ben, 2024. "Community-based wind energy development does not work? Empirical evidence from residents in Canada and Ireland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Rohe, Sebastian & Chlebna, Camilla, 2021. "A spatial perspective on the legitimacy of a technological innovation system: Regional differences in onshore wind energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Steven DiFalco & Anita T. Morzillo, 2021. "Comparison of Attitudes towards Roadside Vegetation Management across an Exurban Landscape," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-16, March.
    5. McKenna, Russell & Weinand, Jann Michael & Mulalic, Ismir & Petrovic, Stefan & Mainzer, Kai & Preis, Tobias & Moat, Helen Susannah, 2020. "Improving renewable energy resource assessments by quantifying landscape beauty," Working Paper Series in Production and Energy 43, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Industrial Production (IIP).
    6. Shawn Olson Hazboun & Hilary Schaffer Boudet, 2020. "Public Preferences in a Shifting Energy Future: Comparing Public Views of Eight Energy Sources in North America’s Pacific Northwest," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-21, April.
    7. Haris Doukas & Alexandros Nikas & Giorgos Stamtsis & Ioannis Tsipouridis, 2020. "The Green Versus Green Trap and a Way Forward," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-6, October.
    8. Jann Michael Weinand & Russell McKenna & Heidi Heinrichs & Michael Roth & Detlef Stolten & Wolf Fichtner, 2021. "Exploring the trilemma of cost-efficient, equitable and publicly acceptable onshore wind expansion planning," Papers 2106.15198, arXiv.org.
    9. Astrid Buchmayr & Luc Van Ootegem & Jo Dewulf & Elsy Verhofstadt, 2021. "Understanding Attitudes towards Renewable Energy Technologies and the Effect of Local Experiences," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-23, November.
    10. Zander, Kerstin K. & Mathur, Deepika & Mathew, Supriya & Garnett, Stephen T., 2024. "Public views about the world's largest proposed solar farm in remote Australia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    11. Erika Christie Berle, 2024. "Spinning Stories: Wind Turbines and Local Narrative Landscapes in Germany," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2438, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Nov 2024.

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