Support and Opposition: The Wind Power Paradox

Despite widespread general public support for wind energy projects, proposed wind farms in the United States are frequently fought at a local level and rarely constructed. This study examines four different potential causes of opposition to wind power: economic and technical feasibility issues, environmental consequences, political obstacles, and societal concerns. Through research of existing literature and original interviews and surveys, we establish that economic and technical feasibility have little to do with the success of wind power projects, and that wind turbines have only minimal impact on the environment. The primary reason for prolonged opposition to wind power projects is a widespread lack of understanding of the risks and benefits of wind power, which becomes magnified by an ill-prepared and poorly-designed political process for the construction and operation of wind turbines.https://digitalcommons.wpi.edu/gps-posters/1030/thumbnail.jp