Wind Deployment in the United States: States, Resources, Policy, and Discourse

Abstract

A transformation in the way the United States produces and uses energy is needed to achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets for climate change mitigation. Wind power is an important low-carbon technology and the most rapidly growing renewable energy technology in the U.S. Despite recent advances in wind deployment, significant state-by-state variation in wind power distribution cannot be explained solely by wind resource patterns nor by state policy. Other factors embedded within the state-level socio-political context also contribute to wind deployment patterns. We explore this sociopolitical context in four U.S. states by integrating multiple research methods. Through comparative state-level analysis of the energy system, energy policy, and public discourse as represented in the media, we examine variation in the context for wind deployment in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, and Texas. Our results demonstrate that these states have different patterns of wind deployment, are engaged in different debates about wind power, and appear to frame the risks and benefits of wind power in different ways. This comparative assessment highlights the complex variation of the state-level socio-political context and contributes depth to our understanding of energy technology deployment processes, decisionmaking, and outcomes.

Can Capacity Markets Be Designed by Democracy?

“…In equation (4), 3 is a share of asset , where 0 < 3 < 1, = 1, 2, 3 (generation, transmission, load server respectively) and -+ b + c = 1. P T represents the transmission fee.…”

“…The environment in which rules and policies are made is important because market rules have a critical impact on the value of technology [1]. The preferences of different actors can impact the scale and scope of technology adoption [2,3], and can even affect system reliability [4].…”

Wind Power: Basic Challenge Concerning Social Acceptance

“…On the other hand, Texas' targeted policy and spatial planning fostered policy that was in line with the energy policy objectives and facilitated deployment. Furthermore, the positive aspects of community-based wind development have been shown, also with regard public acceptance, in particular in Minnesota (53) and Texas (54).…”

“…Within policy there is a strong rooted institutional tendency to look at energy issues and at environmental issues in general primarily -may be even solely-as technical problems. Also experts see the 'energy problem' as a chiefly technical issue, and policymakers tend to continue to overly rely on technology for providing solutions to issues that it cannot address, namely deeper social, political, and cultural problems (53). If one assumes that policymakers are willing to promote wind power, this inappropriate focus remains an obstacle to looking at the technologies to be socio-technical and consequently policymakers continue to promote renewables ineffectively (20).…”

“…Also in the US the nature of wind energy discourses differ significantly within states (53). These contrasting discourses reveal strong deviating beliefs about the necessity of wind generated power as well as fundamentally deviating beliefs about how to implement wind power.…”