Delden, S. van (2022) In my back yard? Community Acceptance of Local Energy Initiatives. Master thesis.
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Master's Thesis Sanne van Delden s2885468.pdf Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
There is broad public support for sustainable energy developments, yet local projects often run into opposition. In the past, this difference has been dismissed with the ‘NIMBY’ assumption. This study goes beyond this assumption and aims to provide insights into why people support or oppose local sustainable energy developments, by doing a case study of the Oosterpoort neighbourhood in Groningen. The Oosterpoort is a relatively dense 19th-century neighbourhood, with high place attachments. The main method of the research is the walk-along interview. The research identifies several factors which could influence support, related to the technology in question, the process and the place of implementation. It is concluded that people hold very nuanced views that cannot be easily captured with simple explanations. The attitudes that people hold towards the initiative differ greatly: whereas one respondent principally rejected the project, another thought it was the only way forward. At the same time, most interviewees were generally positive. The extent to which the identified factors affected people’s attitudes differs from person to person. The results especially show the significance of trust and (the form of) place attachments. Lastly, some recommendations are given: The meanings and emotions that were found can be used to construct a narrative around the energy technology, for example utilising the history of the neighbourhood with collective action. Moreover, it is recommended to place technologies outside areas to which people feel particularly attached. Lastly, broader advice is given to all planners to visit the place, engage with the people living there, and be curious!
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Society, Sustainability and Planning (MSc Socio-spatial Planning) |
| Supervisor: | Kann, F.M.G. van |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Aug 2022 10:55 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Aug 2022 10:55 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3995 |
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