Do concerns about wind farms blow over with time? Residents’ acceptance over phases of project development and proximity

Social acceptance is a key issue for the continued expansion of onshore wind energy. Wind energy development targets increasingly rely on the assumption that residents' concerns related to new wind farms dissipate over time. The persistence of resistance to new wind farms has motivated efforts to investigate this effect. The ‘U-curve’ hypothesis proposes that acceptance is likely to decrease when residents are confronted with the planning of a wind farm in their neighbourhood, but that acceptance may later recover during construction and operation. In this study, relevant research is reviewed, discussed, and applied using a largescale experimental survey focused on residents living within 10 km of an existing wind farm in Ireland (n = 1109). It uses two indicators of how people experience wind farms to investigate willingness to accept further developments. The indicators include the proximity of existing wind farms and their development phase (i.e., planning, construction or operation). The findings show that experience is an important determinant of acceptance, as are an awareness of low-carbon energy initiatives and sense of community spirit. The study examines residents' expectations for participatory fairness and local benefits. Expected adverse impacts on local tourism or potential for discord within the community influence the acceptance for further development. Acceptance is also determined by trust in sources of information, including a designated community liaison officer. The concerns of residents living within the nearest 2 km radius of a wind farm and at the earliest and most uncertain phases of project planning can be crucial issues for acceptance.