The contrasting and comparative public attitudes of local residents surrounding an established and a proposed wind farm.

Abstract

Wind farms are a supply of renewable and environmentally friendly energy however they are met with growing opposition from a range of social groups. This opposition has resulted in a number of wind farm proposals being rejected. In 2010 alone, 48% of proposed wind farms in England and Wales were discarded. As public attitudes have a significant influence on the ultimate decision of a wind farm build, there is much to be researched on how the public perceives wind farms.
This dissertation has concentrated on the contrasting and comparable public attitudes between an established wind farm site and a proposed wind farm site. The chosen sites being Scout Moor wind farm and the proposed and subsequently rejected Denshaw Moor site. The research for this study has been obtained by the means of a number of questionnaires and a selected interview. The responses collected have been analysed with the aim to realise how attitudes between the two sites vary. The significant outcomes of this study have realised that public attitudes compare in regards to renewable energy and wind farms although once a wind farm is recognised, public attitudes distinguish. Public concerns for wind farms have also been comprehended with landscape being a sizeable concern. The results of this study have been supported by existing work and provide an insight into how perception of a wind farm can alter with experience.