According to a recent survey, residents living within three miles of a large-scale solar development have mostly positive attitudes towards it, outnumbering negative attitudes by almost a 3-to-1 margin. The survey, which involved nearly 1,000 residents living near solar projects, sought to gauge public opinion on large scale solar, or LSS, farms that are becoming increasingly common along highways and in neighborhoods.The first-ever national survey of its kind, conducted by researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan, focused on nearly 1,000 residents living near solar projects. The survey revealed that 42% of the respondents are in favor of more solar development in their community, while only 18% are opposed. Surprisingly, over 80% of the participants were unaware of the solar project before its construction, and a third of them only found out about it after completing the survey. Doug Bessette, an associate professor for energy systems at Michigan State University, provided insights into the findings.f Community Sustainability at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was one of the leads on the project.
“The feedback from residents was generally favorable, which is encouraging given the expected increase in solar development in the future,” Bessette said. “However, we also observed more negative opinions related to larger projects and slightly less support from neighbors living very close, within a quarter mile of the projects, so there is still much to be accomplished.”
Residents living at a greater distance from LSS projects tended to have more positive attitudes than those living closer.
For those who live nearby, large renewable energy projects often lead to negative attitudes, while smaller projects typically receive positive responses. Aesthetics, economics, and perceptions of fairness in the planning process greatly influence attitudes.
Residents generally do not support state-level decision-making on the location of future large-scale solar (LSS) projects, and instead, want more opportunities for community participation and feedback. They also prefer local hiring, procurement, and ownership. It is important to have reliable information about the potential impact of a proposed project.
When it comes to the potential impact of a proposed new energy project on their community, the residents place their trust in the existing energy project neighbors, community organizations, and university staff.
Jake White, a doctoral student who contributed to the survey, stated, “Our research findings indicate that LSS neighbors are seeking more opportunities for engagement, with survey respondents showing strong support for increased participation in the planning processes. This highlights a significant opportunity for enhancing the LSS planning processes, which hopefully will lead to better outcomes for all.”
Regarding future LSS projects, the survey respondents expressed a preference for disturbed sites, such as landfills, as potential locations.
Land use is an important consideration when implementing solar projects, as some communities may prefer to see the land used for farming. It is also crucial to communicate effectively with neighbors to raise awareness and involve them in the project.
Although there is still more work to do, the survey results show that there is moderate support for the future of solar energy. Further analysis will be conducted to understand the factors influencing this support and to address any equity concerns.
Bessette expresses satisfaction with the last finding.
According to a recent survey, residents living within three miles of a large-scale solar development have mostly positive attitudes towards it, outnumbering negative attitudes by almost a 3-to-1 margin. The survey, which involved nearly 1,000 residents living near solar projects, sought to gauge public opinion on large scale solar, or LSS, farms that are becoming increasingly common along highways and in neighborhoods.The first-ever national survey of its kind, conducted by researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan, focused on nearly 1,000 residents living near solar projects. The survey revealed that 42% of the respondents are in favor of more solar development in their community, while only 18% are opposed. Surprisingly, over 80% of the participants were unaware of the solar project before its construction, and a third of them only found out about it after completing the survey. Doug Bessette, an associate professor for energy systems at Michigan State University, provided insights into the findings.f Community Sustainability at Michigan State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was one of the leads on the project.
“The feedback from residents was generally favorable, which is encouraging given the expected increase in solar development in the future,” Bessette said. “However, we also observed more negative opinions related to larger projects and slightly less support from neighbors living very close, within a quarter mile of the projects, so there is still much to be accomplished.”
Residents living at a greater distance from LSS projects tended to have more positive attitudes than those living closer.
For those who live nearby, large renewable energy projects often lead to negative attitudes, while smaller projects typically receive positive responses. Aesthetics, economics, and perceptions of fairness in the planning process greatly influence attitudes.
Residents generally do not support state-level decision-making on the location of future large-scale solar (LSS) projects, and instead, want more opportunities for community participation and feedback. They also prefer local hiring, procurement, and ownership. It is important to have reliable information about the potential impact of a proposed project.
When it comes to the potential impact of a proposed new energy project on their community, the residents place their trust in the existing energy project neighbors, community organizations, and university staff.
Jake White, a doctoral student who contributed to the survey, stated, “Our research findings indicate that LSS neighbors are seeking more opportunities for engagement, with survey respondents showing strong support for increased participation in the planning processes. This highlights a significant opportunity for enhancing the LSS planning processes, which hopefully will lead to better outcomes for all.”
Regarding future LSS projects, the survey respondents expressed a preference for disturbed sites, such as landfills, as potential locations.
Land use is an important consideration when implementing solar projects, as some communities may prefer to see the land used for farming. It is also crucial to communicate effectively with neighbors to raise awareness and involve them in the project.
Although there is still more work to do, the survey results show that there is moderate support for the future of solar energy. Further analysis will be conducted to understand the factors influencing this support and to address any equity concerns.
Bessette expresses satisfaction with the last finding.