Social Movements Against Wind Power in Canada and Germany: Energy Policy and Contention

Description

Taking a comparative case study approach between Canada and Germany, this book investigates the contrasting response of governments to anti-wind movements. Environmental social movements have been critical players for encouraging the shift towards increased use of renewable energy. However, social movements mobilizing against the installation of wind turbines have now become a major obstacle to their increased deployment. Andrea Bues draws on a cross-Atlantic comparative analysis to investigate the different contexts of contentious energy policy. Focusing on two sub-national forerunner regions in installed wind power capacity – Brandenburg and Ontario – Bues draws on social movement theory to explore the concept of discursive energy space and propose explanations as to why governments respond differently to social movements. Overall, Social Movements against Wind Power in Canada and Germany offers a novel conceptualization of discursive-institutional contexts of contentious energy politics and helps better understand protest against renewable energy policy. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of renewable energy policy, sustainability and climate change politics, social movement studies and environmental sociology. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Illustrations Figures Tables Acknowledgments List of Acronyms and technical terms 1 Introduction: renewable energy politics and protest Analytical approach Geographic focus and case studies Renewable energy support schemes Methodological approach Structure of the book References 2 Contentious wind energy and context Social movements and government response Discursive energy space: conceptualizing context The power of anti-wind movements Notes References 3 Renewable energy policy and politics in Canada and Germany Germany: from forerunner to laggard? Brandenburg: a coalition of coal and wind power Canada: towards becoming a forerunner in climate action? Ontario: Canada’s forerunner in wind energy Notes References 4 Larger setbacks, saving the forests: the anti-wind movement in Germany, case study Brandenburg Protest within the formal planning system and public debate in Brandenburg Scaling-up the debate: The Volksinitiative “Rettet Brandenburg” Ambiguous political support by the CDU Government response The local level: a case study of RPG Prignitz-Oberhavel Notes References 5 Preserving health, curbing costs: the anti-wind movement in Canada, case study Ontario Anti-wind protest and public debate in Ontario Scaling-up the debate: wind concerns Ontario The opposition party as ally Government response to protest and GEA changes 2012–2016 The local level: a case study of Niagara region Notes References 6 Contention in context: governmental response to social movements Comparing anti-wind movements and government responses The power of anti-wind movements: explaining government responses with the concept of discursive energy space The power effects of the discursive energy space: summary Notes References 7 Conclusion: the changing winds of discourses on decarbonization Summary of the argument Towards a successful decarbonization Changing climate, changing discourses: the way forward References Index