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