Who Owns the Wind?: Climate Crisis and the Hope of Renewable Energy

The energy transition must be fair to replace fossil fuels with wind and solar power, or popular protest against wind farms will prolong carbon pollution and deepen the climate crisis. David Hughes examines anti-industrial, anti-corporate resistance in a Spanish village surrounded by turbines, suggesting that clean power and social justice fit together awkwardly. Proposals for a green economy, the Green New Deal, or Europe's Green Deal require more effort to rethink aesthetics, livelihood, property, and the private nature of wind resources.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2021
Publisher: Verso Books

The energy transition has already begun, and it is crucial that we succeed in replacing fossil fuels with wind and solar power in a fair manner. If we fail to do so, we risk prolonging carbon pollution and deepening the climate crisis. In this essay, David Hughes examines the anti-industrial, anti-corporate resistance that has arisen against wind farms, drawing insights from a Spanish village surrounded by turbines. The residents of this village have a long history of exploitation, and clean power and social justice do not always fit together easily.

Proposals for a green economy, such as the Green New Deal or Europe's Green Deal, require significant effort to achieve. We must rethink aesthetics, livelihood, property, and the private nature of wind resources. Ultimately, the energy transition must be public and just, or it may not be successful at all.

The transition to renewable energy sources is not without its challenges. One of the main concerns is the impact on rural communities, where wind farms can be seen as an intrusion on the landscape and a threat to local livelihoods. However, it is important to recognize that the benefits of renewable energy outweigh these concerns.

Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. They also create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the renewable energy sector. Additionally, renewable energy can help to reduce energy costs for consumers and businesses.

However, the energy transition is not without its challenges. One of the main concerns is the impact on rural communities, where wind farms can be seen as an intrusion on the landscape and a threat to local livelihoods. Additionally, the construction of renewable energy infrastructure can be expensive and require significant land and resources.

To address these challenges, it is important to engage with local communities and find ways to mitigate the negative impacts of renewable energy development. This may include providing training and job opportunities for local residents, as well as offering financial incentives to support the transition.

In conclusion, the energy transition has already begun, and it is crucial that we succeed in replacing fossil fuels with wind and solar power in a fair manner. If we fail to do so, we risk prolonging carbon pollution and deepening the climate crisis. By engaging with local communities and finding ways to mitigate the negative impacts of renewable energy development, we can ensure that the energy transition is public and just, and that it benefits all of society.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 139 x 211 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781839761133