Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Effects of State Policies and County Characteristics on Wind Energy Siting in the Western United States

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/v405sj56z

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  • In order to mitigate climate change and increase sustainability, many states and nations have introduced policies intended to support the growth of renewable energy sources. Among these sources, wind energy has risen most prominently in the 21st century. However, its rise has been accompanied by various constraints and by local opposition, leading to abandoned wind farm proposals and doubts regarding the future prospects of this energy source. This study explored factors that help explain where wind energy has been developed and where it has not. A quantitative analysis was conducted to test the effects of physical, political, and socio-economic variables on wind energy development across 177 counties in four Western states – California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The impact of policies aimed at supporting the growth of renewable energy sources was of particular interest in this study. To further understand the evolution of state policies and wind energy development, and to explore the potential future of wind energy in the study area, a qualitative analysis was conducted, based on regulatory documents and in-depth interviews with experts working for state government agencies. This study revealed the absence of any positive effects of state or federal policies aimed at renewable energy growth on the development of wind energy, a high degree of dependence of wind energy on physical factors and infrastructure, and a tendency of wind developers to build in economically stagnating areas. This study also made methodological contributions to the field of public policy by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the aggregation of micro-level geospatial data in order to generate meaningful countywide measures of relevant variables.
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  • Pending Publication
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  • 2022-03-14 to 2024-04-15

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