Local Wind or Russian Gas? Contextual Influences on Polish Attitudes to Wind Energy Developments

A survey was completed by 200 residents of two localities (100 each) in Northern Poland, a target community affected by proposals for nearby wind farms, and an unaffected control community. Compared with controls, targets were, on average, less favourable towards wind energy development, both locally and elsewhere in Poland, were less convinced that wind energy would help mitigate climate change, and were more inclined to believe it might have negative impacts. Targets also expressed less concern about energy dependence and political relationships with Russia, while seeing government environment policy as more geared towards lessening such dependence. These mean differences, however, disguised a bimodal distribution within the target group only, with most being neutral or against wind development, but a minority clearly in favour. At a theoretical level we contrast a ‘construction of preference’ perspective—that broad affective reactions and situational factors drive the endorsement of more specific beliefs—from a ‘rational choice’ perspective—that attitudes depend on a subjective ‘balance sheet’ of expected costs and benefits. In support of the former view we suggest that many of our participants endorsed environmental and political arguments as justifications for preferences constructed in response to contextual influences.