The Key Mechanisms in Social Acceptance of Wind Farms from Energy Justice Perspective: A Case Study in Turkey

Abstract

Based on a case study in & Ccedil;anakkale province of Turkey, this article examines the mechanisms of social acceptance in the development of wind farms in Turkey from the perspective of energy justice. Through the analysis of in-depth interviews, we identify that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool for social participation, and community benefits as a compensatory mechanism are key mechanisms influencing qualified community acceptance, which we define as the character of social acceptance. By questioning how these mechanisms operate, we incorporate the embedded power and sovereignty relations within the social dimension of wind farms into our analysis.