Public acceptance of offshore wind energy: Relationships among general and specific attitudes

As interest in implementing offshore wind energy has grown in the United States, so has the desire of social scientists to better understand public responses to the technology. One theme in the literature has been the roles of general attitudes towards renewable energy and perceptions of specific projects in shaping public acceptance of offshore wind farms. A survey of 196 residents of two Rhode Island communities that would be most affected by a proposed wind farm off the coast of Block Island reveals that support for the project is shaped by both general attitudes and project-specific beliefs. General attitudes also have substantial influence on project-specific beliefs. Planning processes should engage the public in discussions of both specific project characteristics and larger issues regarding renewable energy.