Unraveling the link between political polarization and wind energy perspectives: Insights from a survey of agricultural landowners in Alberta, Canada

Abstract

Wind energy development can be polarizing with opposition coming from rural regions that are most affected by new wind farms. Local opposition can become further entrenched through political ideologies, where one's perspective on wind turbines becomes a litmus test for one's political position. With these concerns in mind, we utilize results from a survey of large-scale agricultural landowners in Alberta, Canada, to answer the following question. To what extent are self-declared political positions consistent with views on wind energy development? Results indicate that wind energy acceptance is not politically polarized nor even polarized among Alberta's rural landowners. Instead, the sample reveals fragmented, moderate, and likely malleable opinions about wind energy. Within a jurisdiction that is politically conservative and fossil fuel dependent, these results have largely positive implications for future wind energy development in the province.