Public Acceptance?Nuon’s experience in the
UK Piers Guy – Head of Development, Nuon UK
18th March 2009
EWEC 2009EWEC 2009
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Nuon in the UKNuon in the UK
• Nuon UK is a 100% owned subsidiary of
the Dutch Utility company n.v. Nuon
• We are active in wind farm development,
construction and operation in the UK
Market.
• Development portfolio of around 700 MW
including the Pen y Cymoedd project, the
largest proposed onshore project in
England and Wales at 300MW.
Parc Cynog, Wales
Wind farm open day
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National surveys consistently put public acceptance of wind energy at 70-80%
But when a wind farm is actually proposed….often this is where things start to go wrong
Once it is public knowledge there is good chance that a protest anti wind farm group will form or an existing one will begin a campaign against the wind farm
These campaigns mean significant delays and costs and certainly threaten the wind industry’s ability to help deliver the CO2
reductions required
National Surveys – the Real Picture?National Surveys – the Real Picture?
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“Turbine accidents,
fragmented blades, ice
build-up on blades and fire
risk could all pose danger
to people using the
amenities of the area such
as horse riders and the
thousands of campers who
enjoy recreation in the
immediate area at
Santa Pod.”
Campaign to Limit Onshore Windfarm Developments
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VORTEX
WIND FARM ACTION GROUP
Veto On Rural Turbine
EXpansion• Join us, help us to fight for our rights and to stop the needless
desecration of our countryside.
• THE COUNTRYSIDE IS NOT RENEWABLE
• WE NEED YOUR DONATIONS NOW!
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“Your health may be at risk.”
“There is a report done by The University of Essex entitled ' Wind turbines, flicker and photosensitive epilepsy' to read this report click here”
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Normally a vocal “hard-line”
but very well organised
See you as greedy, unsympathetic
big business.Sometimes they are right?!
The really effective
groups try to Involve/inform the whole community
They find lots of information
(“facts”, quotes, research etc. from the internet)to support their views
They lobby local decision makers very hard and
try to convince everybody they
represent the local community
Don’t under estimate them!Don’t under estimate them!
ShouldShould developers developers be worried? be worried?
YES!YES!
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Community EngagementCommunity Engagement
People don’t know that much amount about wind power
Put yourself in their shoes…… If it was in your community how would you like to
be consulted?
A proper engagement plan cannot be an afterthought it needs to be an integral part of the
whole project development process
The “anti” group cannot be allowed to gather the support of the mainstream community – how do you stop them?
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Engagement processEngagement process
ResearchResearchStart at an early stage researching local communities – the history, local issues, influential people, local groups
InformInform
Take the time to get to know the community. Tell people what you are planning, your program and what the community can expect from you.
Tell people what is up for discussion, what they can influence.
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Engagement processEngagement process
ExplainExplain
Information must be easily understood, facts need to be correct and preferably referenced to independent bodies. Be open and non defensive
InvolveInvolve
Designing/developing a wind energy project is an iterative process – involve them in that process instead of trying to sell it to them at the end!
This approach will make the job of anti wind farm groups much more This approach will make the job of anti wind farm groups much more difficultdifficult and help keep the mainstream of people with youand help keep the mainstream of people with you
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Nuon’s ExperienceNuon’s Experience
If you offer people a real, genuinereal, genuine opportunity to contribute, over a reasonable length of time
they come back with constructive, useful comments
Local knowledgeLocal knowledge is key – you learn people’s “bottom line” very quickly
Understanding increasesUnderstanding increases – people know where you’re coming from
They start to see the wind farm project as a whole, balance and understand the issues themselves, and make their own mind up on the final project,
which they’ve helped shapewhich they’ve helped shape
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Community benefitsCommunity benefits
The wind is free but it is a local The wind is free but it is a local resource – community benefits resource – community benefits
schemes can be seen way of schemes can be seen way of recognising that local resource OR recognising that local resource OR
they can be seen as bribery!they can be seen as bribery!
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AccountabilityAccountability
To gain public acceptance, we have to practice what we preach,
workwork withwith communitiescommunities, understand their aspirations, and show
that we are the kind of businesses and industry that they want in
their communities, now and in the future
Without effective, meaningful engagementeffective, meaningful engagement, public acceptance
will not magically appear even if you are offering community
benefits
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“The right way to do things is not to persuade people you’re right but to challenge them to think it through for themselves.” ChomskyChomsky