From Institutional Voids to Opposition Events: Contested Rule Formation in U.S. Wind‑Farm Siting

• In Event: State-Level Dynamics in Energy Governance in the United States

Abstract

Public polling in the United States shows enduring, high‑level approval for wind power, yet proposals for utility‑scale projects routinely spark local backlash that delays or cancels development. This social gap reveals a deeper governance puzzle; wind siting often occurs in an institutional void where no actor wields undisputed authority and the rules of engagement are negotiated in real time. In such settings, negativity bias as vivid stories about noise, visual blight, or property‑value loss can overwhelm abstract pro‑renewable attitudes unless counter‑balanced by qualified support rooted in credible local safeguards. This project tries to answer this question: How does contested rule formation within an institutional void shape the frequency and intensity of community opposition to wind projects, and under what conditions can local regulations convert broad support into durable acceptance? By integrating the concept of institutional voids with the notion of contested rule formation, the study links macro‑level public opinion to meso‑level project resistance through a clearly specified causal mechanism. It reframes opposition not as random obstruction but as an emergent outcome of rule‑making struggles in which negativity narratives gain or lose traction depending on the credibility of setback distances, benefit‑sharing schemes, and participatory procedures. This synthesis advances policy‑process theory by showing how regulatory design can either amplify or neutralize negativity bias in the absence of stable authority. The project introduces opposition events (lawsuits, protests, restrictive ordinances) as a systematic dependent variable, enabling comparative analysis across jurisdictions. Identifying the configurations of rules and rhetoric that consistently suppress or trigger such events offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to align rapid decarbonization with democratic legitimacy.

Authors

• Sina Jangjoo, Florida State University
  Presenting Author

• Xue Gao, Florida State University
  Non-Presenting Co-Author