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