The Challenges and Potential for Collaboration between Wind Energy Scientists and Engineers and Environmentalists

• In Event: Trans-organisational Collaboration in Different Sectors: Epistemic Values and the Dynamics of Co-production

Abstract

The Environmentalist identity is addressed in a variety of ways within the wind energy industry. This study examines internal, expert-to-expert communication of wind energy professionals to elucidate way they both identify as environmentalists and characterize environmentalists outside their industry to identify possible challenges and opportunities for collaboration between the wind industry and environmentalists. As one might expect, wind energy scientists and engineers tend to self-identify as environmentalists. This is largely articulated though concerns over wildlife health as well as ambitions to further renewable energy resources to mitigate climate change. However, this study found that wind energy scientists and engineers characterized environmentalists both positively and negatively. Furthermore, they characterized environmentalist positively when environmental advocacy complements scientific reasoning and supports the wind industry. By studying how wind scientists and engineers compose their views of environmentalism we found instances of harmony and tension which may contribute to or limit future collaboration between the wind industry and environmentalist at large. Better understanding this discursive move by wind energy professionals has the potential to improve energy professionals and interested members of the public.

Author

• Nicolas Hernandez, The University of Texas at El Paso