Many scholars have emphasised community resistance to locally sited wind energy schemes in their explanations of wind power planning outcomes and deployment rates, while others have questioned the impact of local objectors. To illuminate ways in which local protestors attempt to influence decisions over the siting of wind turbines, and the efficacy of their efforts, we compare four cases of anti-windfarm protest in England. Local protestors employ community mobilisation and direct argumentation in attempting to influence local authority decisionmaking. At this level, mobilisation is effective, not only bringing political pressure to bear on elected decisionmakers, but also helping local groups to raise money to hire experts and professional advocates. At public inquiries protestors have some influence through the supporting role they play to more significant objectors, notably local authorities, but may also influence outcomes through informal contacts preceding public inquiries.
This article analyses an atypical case of anti-wind farm contention at Marden in south-east England.Anti-wind farm campaigns have typically sought to resist developments through planning i stitutio s. Though fo usi g o pla i g, the Ma de ase su essfull pu sued a p i ate politi s strategy, pressuring businesses (e.g. developer, investors and landowner) to withdraw their support and commitment. Drawing on 10 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, and extensive do u e ta a al sis, this a ti le des i es a d e plai s this at pi al ase. It a gues that Ma de s p i ate politi s i ol ed st ategi f a i g that alig ed ith usi esses lai s to corporate social and environmental responsibility. Though directly persuading companies on these terms failed, he the a paig e t pu li , e o o i a to s ithd e suppo t. Ma de s t aje to a d outcome are explained via resources and context particular to the case, and the potential reputational damage associated with its framing strategy. The article ends by noting interesting relationships and parallels between private politics and state focused local contention.
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