TY - JOUR
TI - Chains of trust: Energy justice, public engagement, and the first offshore wind farm in the United States
AU - Dwyer, J
AU - Bidwell, D
T2 - Energy Research & Social Science
AB - Public acceptance of renewable energy technologies (RETs) is critical to the broader adoption of these technologies and reducing the role of fossil fuels in electricity generation. Recent investigations into the public engagement processes surrounding RET projects reveal certain procedural deficits, especially concerning procedural fairness and stakeholder trust. With this in mind, we analyze two engagement processes that led to the Block Island Wind Farm, the first operational offshore wind farm in the United States. Through semi-structured interviews we identify certain procedural techniques that allowed process leaders to first build public trust in themselves, then in the process, and ultimately in the outcome. This chain of trust was fostered through informal efforts of process leaders to meet stakeholder expectations concerning process leaders’ ability to work for the public interest, provide meaningful engagement opportunities, and to produce non-discriminatory outcomes. This case study highlights the potential of such informal actions to meet stakeholder expectations and build trust, while also empirically demonstrating specific techniques that future process leaders could employ to increase stakeholder acceptance of RETs.
DA - 2019/01//
PY - 2019
VL - 47
SP - 166
EP - 176
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629618300756
DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2018.08.019
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Human Dimensions
KW - Environmental Justice
KW - Stakeholder Engagement
ER -