Ohio resident here, been following local controversies over utility scale wind and solar and trying to figure out what to think. From what I can tell there are a fair number of supporters for renewables projects in local communities, but they're outnumbered, outworked, or outmaneuvered by more strongly motivated opponents. On their motivation, I differ slightly with your description of renewable benefits as "nebulous." Some of the promised benefits are reasonably tangible but still unappealing to most locals, like increased tax revenues or lease income for a few fortunate landowners. These just aren't enough to outweigh the perceived drawbacks that you highlight.
Ohio resident here, been following local controversies over utility scale wind and solar and trying to figure out what to think. From what I can tell there are a fair number of supporters for renewables projects in local communities, but they're outnumbered, outworked, or outmaneuvered by more strongly motivated opponents. On their motivation, I differ slightly with your description of renewable benefits as "nebulous." Some of the promised benefits are reasonably tangible but still unappealing to most locals, like increased tax revenues or lease income for a few fortunate landowners. These just aren't enough to outweigh the perceived drawbacks that you highlight.
Thank you for your writing and take good care!
Thank you for reading! This is fantastic context.