Rural wind farm development: Social, environmental and economic features important to local residents

The research problem was to examine residents' perceptions of personal costs and benefits in terms of social, environmental or economic features that influence support of or resistance to wind farm development in four rural communities in eastern Michigan. Data were collected from residents using a mail questionnaire, which included twenty-one Likert-style questions inquiring about perceived impact statements of wind farm development in the community. The analysis indicated that there were both differences and similarities in the perception of wind farm impacts on the rural communities. More specifically, the results of the Akaike information criterion test indicated that there was substantial support for nine of the twenty-one variables in support of wind farm development. The contribution of this study recognizes the importance of noneconomic perspectives of wind farm development where turbine construction had not yet been fully exploited. In particular, the data lend support for the use of Social Exchange Theory and further exploration of its applicability in renewable energy investigations. •Analysis of features important in forming support levels in wind farm development.•Social belief outcomes were the strongest predictor of support.•Social exchange theory explains perceived personal costs and benefits.