Do Community Engagement and Fairness Matter in Local Acceptance of Wind Turbines in Tunisia?

In: International journal of social ecology and sustainable development: IJSESD ; an official publication of the Information Resources Management Association, Volume 13, Issue 1, p. 1-13

Abstract

Environmental concern is considered as a significant interest for companies, government and communities. These stakeholders are conscious about the energy situation but this consciousness is not always reflected in actions of acceptance. Accordingly, this research paper sheds light on the impact of the main key factors influencing the community acceptance of wind energy projects in Tunisia. An extensive literature review about community acceptance, community engagement, fairness and perceived risks is presented. Based on previous studies, authors identify the relationships between these variables. A quantitative approach is used to test the hypotheses using responses from a sample of 265 survey respondents in Tunisia. The research results and implications are discussed. Recommendations to be considered by interest stakeholders are drawn.