Social responses to wind farm development: The case of the Mar Brava conflict in the Great Island of Chiloé (Chile)

Abstract

This study explores the responses of the local community to the Parque eólico Chiloé (PECh) project, which is to be installed in the Mar Brava area of Ancud, Chile. Like many other social conflicts involving wind energy developments that have arisen around the world, we find significant public support for wind energy but resistance by the local population to a particular wind farm development. This paper presents the results of an exploratory research study whose aim was to understand the local community’s responses to the PECh project sent to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. A qualitative design primarily with dialogic inquiry techniques has been used. The sample was intentional, identifying the main actors involved in the conflict. The results show that the social conflict is related to multiple factors: a) the perception of damages to natural and cultural heritage; b) the perception of negative strong effects that the wind farm development would have on local productive activities; c) local community distrust towards the company, local authorities and environmental regulators, and d) the threat to life projects of the local people. In order to drive the sustainable development of renewable energy to mitigate the effects of climate change, more attention should be paid to these aspects.