Anchored in tail and headwinds - local participation as a basis for wind farm planning.

Purpose and goal:

The project´s aim has been to improve the conversation about wind power, primarily from the local population´s perspective, by introducing a neutral intermediate actor.The project´s objective was to strengthen participation through a support function and physical dialogue meetings on site, to contribute to research on wind power and participation, to create networks for collaboration among decision-makers and to stimulate increased knowledge, understanding and to get more people involved in a subject of great importance and with many conflicts of interest.

Expected results and effects:

The project has strengthened the local community, increased dialogue with decision-makers, contributed to 2 degree jobs and a research article, as well as a new project where civil society, academia and the public sector continue to collaborate on the energy issue at regional level. The survey study about the dialogue meeting format together with reactions from other dialogues, conversations with parties and groups can indicate that the project is considered to fulfill the goal of creating a functioning dialogue model in several variants facilitated by a civil society actor.

Approach and implementation:

The methodology has been developed into 4 variants: Dialogue meeting for the local community, internal meeting for village boards, dialogue forum for politicians and individual support for citizens.

In the implementation, great importance has been placed on the neutrality of the intermediate actor/dialogue leader as well as on transparency regarding contact with all parties. The adaptation in form and material is based on local needs, the approach is open and inclusive with source criticism think and focus is to inspire more people to increased participation and commitment.