Sheltering wind power projects from tempestuous community concerns

Although wind power is currently enjoying a boom period, maximizing development potential will be largely influenced by how well developers manage social and environmental issues. As more wind farms are developed, threats to both social and ecological endowments will increase. The intent of this paper is to provide a comprehensive literature review and analysis of social impediments to wind power development under two broad thematic areas—concerns over impairment of existing community endowments and concerns over impairment of existing ecosystems—in order to provide policy makers with insight into strategic approaches for reducing the propensity for social opposition to wind power development projects.

Research Highlights► Social and ecological challenges will increase as wind power capacity increases. ► Perception trumps fact in regard to community concerns over wind energy projects. ► Local concerns trump global concerns when communities evaluate wind energy projects. ► Aesthetic concerns trump ecological concerns when evaluating wind energy projects. ► Mitigating avian mortality and habitat degradation requires formal EIAs.