What explains the community acceptance of wind energy? Exploring benefits, consultation, and livelihoods in coastal Brazil

Abstract In the Global South, qualitative research has identified injustices arising from exclusionary community consultation, wide information gaps between host communities and decision makers, and high reliance among residents on land- and sea-based resources that may compete with renewable power infrastructure. Here we analyze results of a face-to-face survey applied in three communities hosting wind farms in Ceara state, northeastern Brazil. Results from three regression models for two dependent variables (“support wind farm” and “support more wind farms”) are reported. The comparative case study shows wide variation in support for wind farms among host communities with Benefits as a consistently significant independent variable, followed by Consultation and Environment variables. High support was observed in a community where a flawed consultation and construction process may have been partly overcome by mitigation funds that paid for new houses in one sub-community. Lowest support was found in a community with contested land tenure and a polemic consultation process, but the Benefits variable predicted increased odds of supporting a proposed wind farm. Support for wind farms was highest in a community where the wind investors negotiated royalties with landholders. The findings suggest that perceived or real economic benefits generated support for wind farms, especially when those benefits strengthened livelihoods and land-tenure security of host communities where livelihoods depended on fishing and farming and few employment opportunities exist. The varying consultation processes indicate that need for wind investors and state officials to improve community consultations.