As solar energy production develops, how do Americans feel about large-scale solar farms, or LSS, that they see on the highway or in their neighborhood? A new survey indicated that among inhabitants living within three miles of a large-scale solar facility, favorable opinions outnumbered negative attitudes by nearly three to one.
Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan polled over 1,000 citizens who live near solar projects, marking the first time a representative survey of this type has been conducted nationally.
42% of these respondents support increased development in their neighborhood, while 18% reject further developments. At the same time, more than 80% of respondents were uninformed of the project prior to development, and a third did not learn about it until they completed the poll.
The responses from residents were generally positive, which is good to see considering the amount of solar that is likely to be developed in the coming years. At the same time, we saw more negative attitudes associated with larger projects and somewhat less support amongst neighbors living really close, within a quarter mile of projects, so there’s a lot of work to be done.
Doug Bessette
Doug Bessette, an associate professor of energy systems in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was one of the project’s leaders.
“The responses from residents were generally positive, which is good to see considering the amount of solar that is likely to be developed in the coming years,” Bessette said. “At the same time, we saw more negative attitudes associated with larger projects and somewhat less support amongst neighbors living really close, within a quarter mile of projects, so there’s a lot of work to be done.”
Positive attitudes were indeed more common among residents living farther from LSS projects than for those living closer to them. The largest projects tend to provoke negative attitudes, while projects under 100 megawatts — those requiring less than roughly 600 acres or one square mile — tend to receive mostly positive responses. Factors like aesthetics, economics and perceptions of fairness in the planning process strongly influence attitudes.
Residents largely oppose increased state-level decision-making on future LSS siting, preferring increased opportunities for community participation and feedback. They also expressed a preference for local hiring, procurement and ownership. For reliable information about what impact a proposed project might have on their community, residents trust existing energy project neighbors, community organizations and university staff.
Jake White, a doctorate student who contributed to the study, stated, “Our findings demonstrate that LSS neighbors want to be more involved, with respondents highly supporting more possibilities for engagement in planning procedures. This reveals a significant possibility for improvement in LSS planning processes, which should lead to better outcomes for all.
When it came to future LSS initiatives, respondents preferred disturbed locations, such as landfills, over farmlands. When projects arrive in communities, communications efforts must be made to raise awareness and engage neighbors.
While more work remains to be done, the results of this survey indicate moderate support for solar in the future, with additional analysis planned to identify contributing factors and solve equality concerns.
