| Wind energy is now recognized as an important energy resource throughout the world. Within the United States, the state of Texas currently has the largest wind energy capacity with 7,115.66 total megawatts and an additional 1,651.35 megawatts under construction. With this rapid growth of wind energy capacity, it is important to achieve a better understanding of how wind energy is being perceived. This paper examines the social perceptions of wind energy in Texas and its associated environmental attitudes. The paper explores three main research strands: (i) describing the environmental attitudes of a population that is in close proximity to a wind farm development, (ii) determining the influence that proximity has on wind energy attitudes, and (iii) determining if the Not-In-My-Backyard (Nimby) phenomenon correctly explains human perceptions of wind energy. |
