A Double-Edged Sword? Understanding Support and Opposition Toward Renewable Energy Development in Rural Utah

The majority of utility-scale renewable energy facilities are constructed in rural areas where both large tracks of open land and renewable energy resources are plentiful, such as in much of the Intermountain West. Though communities in the rural West are frequently accustomed to energy development projects, renewable energy may be uniquely received due to cultural and ideological meanings assigned. This study analyzes interview transcripts with twenty-three individuals living in a rural county where significant renewable energy development has occurred to understand the factors related to support and opposition. Results indicate almost unanimous support for renewable energy, though even supportive individuals voiced substantial points of hesitation. Most relevant to residents’ support for renewable energy was economic development and appreciation of the technology’s logic. Barriers to support included the understanding that most jobs created were not permanent, neoliberal economic beliefs, hesitancy toward renewable energy’s association with liberal politics, and concern about its technical reliability as an energy source. Overall, this research suggests that the economic contribution of renewable energy is a highly salient communication strategy for rural communities. However, those seeking to foster more renewable energy development in rural places must attempt to neutralize partisan dimensions as much as possible, including the impulse to justify it on the grounds of climate mitigation.