Preferences for community benefits for offshore wind development projects: A case study of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, U.S.

ABSTRACT

As offshore wind energy development gains a foothold, the possibility of conflict between local communities and developers may become increasingly common. Coastal communities within the viewshed or hosting transmission cables may fear several impacts but few benefits. Community benefits, provided through the wind farm developer, may help garner local support in communities in close proximity to a wind farm project. This research focused on the first offshore wind energy lease off the coastline of North Carolina, U.S. This study utilized semi-structured interviews to understand how key informants think of a proposed offshore wind farm in the context of community benefits. Findings reveal that key informants are skeptical of direct benefits like local employment, though optimistic about indirect, regional benefits, like economic development. The majority of key informants were interested in a community fund that would be administered by the local government or a trusted local organization. This study provides an initial assessment of perspectives on community benefits in the context of offshore wind development and makes recommendations on how to incorporate community benefits into the offshore wind development process. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of additional research into this topic.

KEYWORDS:

• Community benefits
• offshore wind energy
• public acceptance
• renewable energy

Acknowledgements

This study is partly based upon work supported by the RI Agricultural Experiment Station Hatch Regional – RI 01104-W3133 and the College of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors).

Government disclaimer

The views in this research article are the authors’ own and do not represent those of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, or any other agency or office of the U.S. Government.

Human subjects protections

The research reported in this article was approved by the University of Rhode Island Institutional Review Board. IRB1819-220.

Notes

1 Since the time of data collection for this study, Avangrid Renewables has moved forward with planning for a 800-MW first phase of a 2500-MW development in the Kitty Hawk Wind Lease. A Construction and Operations Plan (COP) was submitted to BOEM in December 2020. Construction is expected to begin in 2024. To our knowledge, there has been no negotiations of community benefits for the Outer Banks.

2 Extension programs are a means through which land-grant universities in the U.S. provide community education and technical support for agriculture and other local industries. Extension officers often develop deep relationships with the communities they serve.

Additional information

Funding

This study is partly based upon work supported by the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station Hatch Regional – [grant number RI 01104-W3133] and the College of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Rhode Island.

Notes on contributors

Grant Tyler

Grant Tyler is a recent graduate of the University of Rhode Island’s Masters of Arts in Marine Affairs program. His research is focused on the social acceptance of offshore wind developments. Grant's background is in environmental science.

David Bidwell

Dr. David Bidwell is an Associate Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of Rhode Island. He uses the methods and theories of environmental sociology to understand attitudes and decision making towards offshore renewable energy and other environmental topics.

Tiffany Smythe

Dr. Tiffany C. Smythe is Associate Professor of Maritime Policy at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Her research is centered around ocean and coastal governance and ocean use conflicts, particularly those related to offshore renewable energy. Tiffany’s background includes both research and practice in the field of marine environmental policy.

Simona Trandafir

Dr. Simona Trandafir is an Associate Professor of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Her main research is focused on the development of socially efficient renewable energy policy. She is interested in understanding how people respond to different incentive structures associated with offshore wind and solar power installations. She currently serves as the director for the undergraduate certificate for Energy Economics and Policy at the University of Rhode Island.