Does community ownership affect Does community ownership affect
public attitudes to wind energy? public attitudes to wind energy?
A case study from south-west ScotlandA case study from south-west Scotland
ESRC Seminar, Cardiff, 17-2-2009ESRC Seminar, Cardiff, 17-2-2009
Charles Warren & Malcolm Charles Warren & Malcolm McFadyen McFadyen
School of Geography & Geosciences, School of Geography & Geosciences,
University of St AndrewsUniversity of St Andrews
Scotland, UKScotland, UK
Does community ownership affect Does community ownership affect
public attitudes to wind energy? public attitudes to wind energy?
A case study from south-west ScotlandA case study from south-west Scotland
ESRC Seminar, Cardiff, 17-2-2009ESRC Seminar, Cardiff, 17-2-2009
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
Scottish contextScottish context Research questions Research questions
& study area & study area
Summary of resultsSummary of results
ConclusionsConclusions
SCOTTISH SCOTTISH
CONTEXTCONTEXT
SCOTTISH CONTEXTSCOTTISH CONTEXT
Excellent resource + strong policy supportExcellent resource + strong policy support
rapid development of onshore wind powerrapid development of onshore wind power
Windfarm ‘footprint’ in Windfarm ‘footprint’ in
Scotland, August 2008Scotland, August 2008
BUTBUT
Rate & scale of developmentRate & scale of development
strong public opposition - strong public opposition - esp. re landscape impactsesp. re landscape impacts
SCOTTISH CONTEXTSCOTTISH CONTEXT
Excellent resource + strong policy supportExcellent resource + strong policy support
lots of windfarmslots of windfarms
Why?Why?
Perhaps due to the development model: Perhaps due to the development model:
private sector companies, with public private sector companies, with public
subsidies, developing large windfarmssubsidies, developing large windfarms
ie. ie. no direct community involvementno direct community involvement
Might community ownership result in Might community ownership result in
greater social acceptability?greater social acceptability?
SCOTTISH CONTEXTSCOTTISH CONTEXT
Scottish politics: devolution in 1999Scottish politics: devolution in 1999
land reform processland reform process
land purchases by local communitiesland purchases by local communities
One community buyout - of the Isle of Gigha in 2002 - One community buyout - of the Isle of Gigha in 2002 -
resulted in the development of Scotland’s first resulted in the development of Scotland’s first
community-owned, grid-connected windfarm, community-owned, grid-connected windfarm,
commissioned in 2005commissioned in 2005
RESEARCH QUESTIONSRESEARCH QUESTIONS
Tested three hypotheses:Tested three hypotheses:
1.1. Community-owned windfarms are associated with more Community-owned windfarms are associated with more
positive local attitudes than windfarms owned by positive local attitudes than windfarms owned by
commercial companiescommercial companies
2.2. Support for wind power is low in areas with multiple Support for wind power is low in areas with multiple
windfarms, specifically as a consequence of visual windfarms, specifically as a consequence of visual
impacts and cumulative effectsimpacts and cumulative effects
3.3. Windfarms make a region less attractive to touristsWindfarms make a region less attractive to tourists
Tangy Windfarm, March 2007Tangy Windfarm, March 2007
Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm, March 2007Beinn an Tuirc Windfarm, March 2007
Isle of Gigha from the south-west, March 2007Isle of Gigha from the south-west, March 2007
Gigha: one of the three turbines, with theGigha: one of the three turbines, with the
islands of Jura and Islay beyondislands of Jura and Islay beyond
Data gathered in autumn 2006Data gathered in autumn 2006
- Likert-scale questionnaires (n = 106) + 5 interviews- Likert-scale questionnaires (n = 106) + 5 interviews
RESULTSRESULTS
0.0 0.04.3
21.7
73.9
2.34.5
25.020.5
47.7
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
1 2 3 4 5
Per
cen
tag
e o
f R
esp
on
den
ts
Gigha
Kintyre
Attitudes towards increasing Attitudes towards increasing development of wind power development of wind power in Scotland as a wholein Scotland as a whole
8.3
0.0
16.7
41.7
33.3
7.14.8
23.821.4
42.9
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
45.0
1 2 3 4 5
Per
cent
age
of R
espo
nden
ts
Gigha
Kintyre
Attitudes towards increasing Attitudes towards increasing development of wind power development of wind power
in the local areain the local area
PositivePositiveNegativeNegative
PositivePositiveNegativeNegative
RESULTSRESULTS
‘‘What are your two greatest concerns about wind power?’What are your two greatest concerns about wind power?’
Largest response category in both areas = ‘no concerns’Largest response category in both areas = ‘no concerns’
Landscape impacts of windfarms Landscape impacts of windfarms werewere of concern to some. of concern to some.
But …But …
4.2 4.2
29.2
12.5
50.0
4.5
13.6
31.829.5
20.5
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
1 2 3 4 5
Per
cent
age
of R
espo
nden
ts
Gigha
Kintyre
PositivePositiveNegativeNegative
Respondents’ evaluation of the visual impact ofRespondents’ evaluation of the visual impact of
windfarms on the local landscapewindfarms on the local landscape
Those perceiving visual impacts as positive outnumbered Those perceiving visual impacts as positive outnumbered
those who saw them as negative by >7:1 on Gigha those who saw them as negative by >7:1 on Gigha
and by almost 3:1 on Kintyreand by almost 3:1 on Kintyre
RESULTSRESULTS
The influence of ownershipThe influence of ownership::
Turbines nicknamed Turbines nicknamed ‘the Three Dancing Ladies’‘the Three Dancing Ladies’
and given individual Gaelic names -and given individual Gaelic names -
Creideas, Dòchas & CarthannaCreideas, Dòchas & Carthanna (Faith, Hope & (Faith, Hope &
Charity)Charity)
Kintyre: 45% would be more positive if windfarms were Kintyre: 45% would be more positive if windfarms were
owned by local communitiesowned by local communities
Gigha: 65% would be less supportive of a Gigha: 65% would be less supportive of a
commercial windfarmcommercial windfarm
Gigha - reasons for support:Gigha - reasons for support:
economic: annual income of economic: annual income of £85,000£85,000 symbolism, community pride - symbolism, community pride - sensesense of ownership of ownership
Striking contrast to language of windfarm opponents …Striking contrast to language of windfarm opponents …
RESULTSRESULTS
Tourist surveyTourist survey
For 90% of tourists, windfarms were irrelevantFor 90% of tourists, windfarms were irrelevant
The remainder were split 50:50 - attractive The remainder were split 50:50 - attractive v.v. repellent repellent
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS - hypotheses revisited:- hypotheses revisited:
1.1. Community-owned windfarms are associated with more Community-owned windfarms are associated with more
positive local attitudes than windfarms owned by commercial positive local attitudes than windfarms owned by commercial
companiescompanies - SUPPORTED- SUPPORTED
Community ownership doesn’t magically turn opponents Community ownership doesn’t magically turn opponents
into into
supporters. It appears to amplify positive attitudes supporters. It appears to amplify positive attitudes
and and
suppress negative ones. suppress negative ones.
Contrasts between Kintyre and Gigha are differences of Contrasts between Kintyre and Gigha are differences of
degreedegree, not diametrically opposing viewpoints. , not diametrically opposing viewpoints.
Attitudes are broadly supportive in both areas.Attitudes are broadly supportive in both areas.
2.2. Support for wind power is low in areas with multiple Support for wind power is low in areas with multiple windfarmswindfarms - NOT SUPPORTED- NOT SUPPORTED
3.3. Windfarms make a region less attractive to touristsWindfarms make a region less attractive to tourists
- NOT SUPPORTED- NOT SUPPORTED
CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS
Results imply that an increase in community ownership could Results imply that an increase in community ownership could
increase public support for windfarms in Scotland & UKincrease public support for windfarms in Scotland & UK
ButBut::
Has the UK missed the boat for widespread community-owned Has the UK missed the boat for widespread community-owned
wind power projects? wind power projects?
cf. recent Danish experiencecf. recent Danish experience