2013/02/01 by Derek Bell, Tim Gray, Claire Haggett +1 · 2 citations
Environmental Science · Social Sciences · #Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy #Social Media and Politics #Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
paper · doi:10.1080/09644016.2013.755793
openalex publication_date 2013/02/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Our widely cited 2005 explanatory framework for considering public responses to wind farm developments distinguished two gaps: a ‘social gap’ between the high support for wind energy reported in surveys and the low success rate for wind farm applications; and an ‘individual gap’ whereby an individual supports wind energy in general but opposes a local wind farm (NIMBYism). The popular assumption that NIMBYism was the only explanation for the ‘social gap’ was contested. Instead, three explanations of the social gap were provided – democratic deficit, qualified support, and NIMBYism – and a range of different policy responses was suggested. This analysis is re-visited in order to take account of the theoretical and empirical developments since its publication. The original explanatory framework is expanded and revised and new conclusions are drawn about the likely causes of the ‘social gap’.