Chad Walker, Ph.D.

Research - Teaching - Impact

“Winds of Change”: Explaining Support for Wind Energy Developments in Ontario, Canada


Master's thesis


Chad Walker
Western University, 2012

View PDF
Cite

Cite

APA   Click to copy
Walker, C. (2012). “Winds of Change”: Explaining Support for Wind Energy Developments in Ontario, Canada (Master's thesis). Western University.


Chicago/Turabian   Click to copy
Walker, Chad. “‘Winds of Change’: Explaining Support for Wind Energy Developments in Ontario, Canada .” Master's thesis, Western University, 2012.


MLA   Click to copy
Walker, Chad. “Winds of Change”: Explaining Support for Wind Energy Developments in Ontario, Canada . Western University, 2012.


BibTeX   Click to copy

@mastersthesis{chad2012a,
  title = {“Winds of Change”: Explaining Support for Wind Energy Developments in Ontario, Canada },
  year = {2012},
  school = {Western University},
  author = {Walker, Chad}
}

This thesis addresses a major gap in the wind turbine and risk assessment literatures. It explains local support for wind energy in some areas in spite of vocal opposition in others. Findings from Port Burwell and Clear Creek, Ontario indicate that social and contextual forces may help explain much of the difference in opinion between the two communities. The case study was focused through 21 in-depth interviews. The interviews were analyzed verbatim using NVIVO 9 software. The findings were found to be consistent with Kasperson’s theory of the Social Amplification of Risk and seem to explain why Port Burwell is an area of high support for wind turbines while other places, like Clear Creek to an extent are not nearly as supportive. Ultimately the thesis calls for a policy change and rededication to promote effective green energy policy in Ontario. 

Share

Tools
Translate to