SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITIONS: DISTRIBUTIONAL FAIRNESS, PLACE ATTACHMENT, AND LOCAL RESISTANCE

Abstract

The transition toward renewable energy is widely recognized as a central pathway for reducing carbon emissions, strengthening energy security, and supporting long-term sustainable development. However, the success of renewable energy projects depends not only on technological feasibility or policy ambition but also on the social acceptance of communities affected by energy infrastructure. This paper examines the social acceptance of renewable energy transitions with a focus on distributional fairness, place attachment, and local resistance. The study highlights how perceptions of unequal benefit-sharing, environmental disruption, and limited public participation can reduce community support for renewable energy projects, even when residents generally support clean energy goals. The findings suggest that acceptance is strongest when communities perceive that project benefits, costs, and decision-making authority are distributed fairly. Place attachment also plays a major role, as residents who feel strong emotional, cultural, or historical bonds with their local landscape are more likely to resist projects viewed as threatening community identity or environmental character. Local resistance, therefore, should not be understood simply as opposition to renewable energy, but as a response to perceived procedural exclusion, uneven impacts, and inadequate recognition of community values. The paper concludes that renewable energy transitions require socially just planning models that combine technical efficiency with fairness, transparency, and meaningful local engagement. By addressing distributional concerns and respecting place-based identities, policymakers and developers can reduce conflict and build stronger public trust in renewable energy transitions.