Individual or collective? Community investment, local taxes, and the social acceptance of wind energy in Switzerland
Journal
Energy Research & Social Science
ISSN
2214-6296
Type
journal article
Author(s)
Abstract
This research paper describes the effect of different financial participation models for wind energy projects on the social acceptance of a hypothetical project. Based on the configuration of three different financial participation models tested in a pre-study with several industry experts, we conducted an experimental survey with a representative sample of Swiss electricity customers (n=1202). Our results indicate that a local resource tax that benefits the entire community is favored over individual financial participation models (namely, the opportunity for local citizens to participate through shares or bonds). For key stakeholders such as community attached people or those with a politically centrist, progressive mindset, the local resource tax leads to a significant increase in acceptance. As findings about specific financial participation models for wind energy projects are rare, our research creates a foundation on which social acceptance of wind energy projects at the local community level can be fostered.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SoM - Responsible Corporate Competitiveness (RoCC)
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Elsevier
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
pascal.vuichard@unisg.ch
Eprints ID
258014