Attitudes Towards Renewables

People's views on renewable energy are significantly influenced by their beliefs about the negative impacts and effects it will have on the environment and their health and well-being (Bartczak, Budzinski, & Gołębiowska, 2021, p 2-3). Wind turbines are faced with notable opposition in particular in this regard, despite the growing rollout across many developed nations. There are many advantages of wind turbines such as a focus on 1) local energy production reducing the dependence on foreign sources, 2) more sustainable energy production, 3) a sign of commitment to solving the climate crisis, 4) reduction in air pollution and 5) the potential to increase tourism in local communities (Smith & Klick, 2007, p 8). Despite this, there is reasonable cause to suspect that some locals will object to the construction of a wind turbine in their village, as wind turbines (1) may produce noise which may disturb inhabitants, (2) they have potential to harm wildlife, (3) concerns over which land is used, (4) some people may find that the wind turbine spoils local scenery, (5) concerns over the impact on local property prices, and lastly (6) it may not produce a reduction in local electricity bills (Smith & Klick, 2007, p 8). The DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker confirmed that the British population living in rural areas are more likely to oppose, especially wind farms, compared to their urban compatriots (2024, p 6). Rural communities are more concerned about wind turbines disturbing “local plant and animal life (66% compared with 52% in urban areas), house prices (47% compared with 34%), not benefiting the local community (45% compared with 26%) and not benefiting the local economy (33% compared with 19%)” (2024, p 6). However, people living in rural areas also showed more concern in regards to solar farms on account of the “perceived lack of benefit to the local community (45% compared with 29% in urban areas) and to the local economy (40% compared with 29%), as well as concern about the loss of fertile and agricultural land (20% compared with 10%)” (DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker, 2024, p 8). In light of these previous findings, it is vital for the success of any proposed green energy initiative, whether in the form of a wind turbine or other infrastructure, that the local inhabitants’ opinions and attitudes are studied and considered.

Thomson and Kempton’s study on the perceptions and attitudes of US residents living near wind turbines versus a coal plant showed that 43% of residents living near a wind turbine felt it had a ‘positive effect’ on their life, compared to the 46% of residents living near a coal plant felt that the plant had a ‘negative effect’ on their life (2017, p 305). Despite the tendency to prefer the existing power plants in the community, residents from both communities “perceived greater visual and noise impacts from coal than from wind” (Thomson & Kempton, p 310). Their study also concluded that there was no geographic correlation between the positive and negative responses of the visual and auditory impact of wind turbines (Thomson & Kempton, 2017, p 305). Based on this, people’s opinions of wind turbines seem to be independent of people’s exposure to the technology. Biases towards a preferred energy source are therefore not as closely linked to familiarity, local employment and political preferences in the community (Thomson & Kempton, p 310). A key factor in determining the attitudes people have towards local renewable energy sources is their concern for the environment rather than the role of different energy-providing infrastructures (Scovell et al, 2023, p 10). In their study, Scovell et al. investigated how the “energy transition narrative influences local acceptance of solar farms” in Australia (2023, p 10) and found that people who perceived the earth as ‘fragile’ and in need of protection, in the form of large scale changes in human behaviour, are more likely to support local green initiatives (2023, p 8). This perception is associated with the belief that their country should be speeding up the green energy transition and that this will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Scovell et al, 223, p 8).

Attitudes of Rural UK Population

In the UK, 87% of the rural population is concerned about the impacts of climate change, in particular, climate-related issues such as sustaining the natural environment, deforestation, and plastic and air pollution. Possibly due to these factors, rural citizens are more likely to reduce household energy consumption and switch to a renewable energy provider, compared to urban citizens (Equipping Rural Councillors to Engage Effectively on Climate UK100, 2021). The 2023 Climate-Ready Index study by YouGov showed that UK residents over 65 are more likely to take more energy-saving measures (eg turning down heating, shorter/ lower temperature cycles on washing machines, etc) than those aged 18-24 (Over-65s top poll of climate-conscious behaviours, 2023). The economic climate in the UK is a key factor driving how people engage with environmental climate matters. According to the 2017 EON Energy study, 55% of the British participants wanted to see sustainable improvements in their community by making their homes more sustainable and cheaper to run (Britons Demanding Progress towards Cleaner Communities, 2017). As energy costs continued to rise over the last seven years, many British citizens may have been forced to prioritise sustaining their basic needs over making long-term climate-conscious impacts. Acknowledging the immediate needs of citizens, and addressing these with renewable energy initiatives, can bring meaningful rural development if the energy transition genuinely benefits the rural community. In Scotland, community ownership models are used to roll out renewable energy transitions, showing higher social and economic benefits at the local level (Clausen & Rudolph, 2020, p 6). Local community involvement plays a major factor in the realisation of the potential for renewable energy infrastructure. The benefits of renewable energy should be retained locally to ensure support, as rural areas are critical for the renewable energy transition. Only 8% of East of England residents feel proud of investments in green initiatives done by their local communities because they do not feel that they are a part of the decision-making process and across the UK, 60% of adults would like more direct input in how taxpayers’ money is invested in green initiatives (Britons Demanding Progress towards Cleaner Communities, 2017). Furthermore, because of the centralised model of governance in the UK, 85% of rural citizens stated that they do not feel part of the decision-making process (Equipping Rural Councillors to Engage Effectively on Climate UK100, 2021). This indicates a need for community-driven projects driven by a partnership between rural councils, local volunteer groups such as Heating Bildeston and village champions pushing for a Net Zero future.