Close and Connected: The Effects of Proximity and Social Ties on Citizen Opposition to Electricity Transmission Lines

Abstract

To meet reliability and renewable energy goals, new high-voltage transmission line (HVTL) projects are being built in the United States and worldwide. The siting of HVTLs, often considered a locally unwanted land use (LULU), can be difficult due to the negative externalities they create. Based on a survey of 358 residents of Chino Hills, California, we find that respondents' main concerns in regard to an HVTL project were health risks and harm to property values. Regression modeling finds that citizens who live close to the project, and are more connected to each other, are more likely to oppose the project. Psychosocial perceptions of project risks are also an important predictor of opposition. A high level of perceived risk moderates the effects of distance on opposition attitudes and behaviors. Trust in the project sponsor is a significant independent predictor of opposition, and moderates the relationship between distance and opposition.

Designing local renewable energy communities to increase social acceptance: Evidence from a choice experiment in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland

“…The effect of the proximity of these energy infrastructures to homes is also examined in several studies (see e.g. Nelson and Cain, 2017;Bjørn Aaen and Lyhne, 2016;Devine-Wright, 2012), framed under the so-called "Notin-My-Backyard" phenomenon, whereby the public perceives infrastructure projects as necessary, but opposes these projects in their own neighbourhoods (Schively, 2007). Yet the results of these studies are mixed showing that proximity may have a positive, negative or no impact on acceptance, depending 1 On overview legal limitation for the four investigated countries is provided in https://www.storeandgo.info/fileadmin/downloads/publications/Kreeft__G.J.__2018__-_Legislative_and_Regulatory_Framework_for_Power-to-Gas_in_Italy__Germany_and_Switzerland.pdf on type of power plant and national context considered (Ansolabehere and Konisky, 2009;Ek, 2005;Read et al, 2013).…”

Wind farms, farmland occupation and compensation: Evidences from landowners’ preferences through a stated choice survey in Italy

“…However, the demand for higher compensation may also be a signal of discontent, the causes of which, though not investigated in this study, could be the focus of future research. In particular, the specialist literature refers to several possible determinants (Nelson et al, 2017): mistrust toward the agencies responsible for siting, construction, and management (Ceglarz et al, 2017;Jenkin-Smith et al, 2009;Schively, 2007); lack of information and a sense of exclusion from the decision-making process (Lienert et al, 2018;Gross, 2007); a negative institutional context (Friedl and Reichl, 2016;Devine-Wright, 2009); and the lack of simplified and standardised regulatory frameworks (Battaglini et al, 2012). Hence, investigation of these further issues could improve findings in favour of conflict reduction, thus ensuring "procedural justice" and "social trust" with better policy outcomes (D'Souza and Yiridoe, 2014;Ritchie et al, 2013;Steinbach, 2013;Mohanty and Tandon, 2006;Roussopoulos, 2005;Casieri et al, 2010).…”

Harmful or Beneficial to Humans and the Environment? An Empirical Study on the Social Acceptance and Risk Perception of CO2-Based Fuels

“…An effect of 'risk denial' was revealed in previous risk perception research (Sjöberg, 2000) with individuals thinking they are less at risk when exposed to a technology compared to other people. Furthermore, perceived overall risk can evolve from different risk sources, e.g., accident risks, negative health effects, environmental damage, financial, social, and sustainability risks, as found, for example, for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) (L'Orange Seigo et al, 2014;Upham and Roberts, 2011) and transmission lines (Nelson et al, 2018). Another risk-relevant aspect can be fear of toxic effects of a substance.…”