TY - JOUR

T1 - Actor perceptions of polycentricity in wind power governance

AU - Juerges, Natalie

AU - Leahy, Jessica

AU - Newig, Jens

PY - 2018/11/1

Y1 - 2018/11/1

N2 - Wind power development as an alternative to fossil fuels or nuclear energy is currently a challenge for many countries. Wind power development often leads to conflicts between different actors. This case study examines conflict about wind power projects in forested landscapes in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and Maine, USA. Specifically, actor perspectives on polycentric governance and its legitimacy to manage such complex conflicts were evaluated based on 40 qualitative, semistructured interviews with actors engaged in wind power decisions from various sectors. Polycentric governance has been advocated by many to alleviate conflicts and arrive at sustainable solutions in complex resource management settings. Polycentric governance systems of wind power issues were regarded positively and considered as having high legitimacy by interview participants. Even though individuals had varied perceptions, the combined perceptions of the two polycentric systems in Rhineland-Palatinate and Maine and the factors that constitute legitimacy in wind power governance were similar in both cases.

AB - Wind power development as an alternative to fossil fuels or nuclear energy is currently a challenge for many countries. Wind power development often leads to conflicts between different actors. This case study examines conflict about wind power projects in forested landscapes in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and Maine, USA. Specifically, actor perspectives on polycentric governance and its legitimacy to manage such complex conflicts were evaluated based on 40 qualitative, semistructured interviews with actors engaged in wind power decisions from various sectors. Polycentric governance has been advocated by many to alleviate conflicts and arrive at sustainable solutions in complex resource management settings. Polycentric governance systems of wind power issues were regarded positively and considered as having high legitimacy by interview participants. Even though individuals had varied perceptions, the combined perceptions of the two polycentric systems in Rhineland-Palatinate and Maine and the factors that constitute legitimacy in wind power governance were similar in both cases.

KW - Sustainability Science

KW - forest

KW - multilevel governance

KW - renewable energy

KW - wind turbine

KW - forest

KW - multilevel governance

KW - renewable energy

KW - wind turbine

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85055739205&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/eet.1830

DO - 10.1002/eet.1830

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 28

SP - 383

EP - 394

JO - Environmental Policy and Governance

JF - Environmental Policy and Governance

SN - 1756-932X

IS - 6

ER -