RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 When Energy Issues Are Land Use Issues: Estimating Preferences for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Siting
JF Land Economics
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 343
OP 363
DO 10.3368/le.99.3.111221-0130R1
VO 99
IS 3
A1 Gaur, Vasundhara
A1 Lang, Corey
A1 Howard, Gregory
A1 Quainoo, Ruth
YR 2023
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/99/3/343.abstract
AB Although solar energy receives broad support in general, utility-scale solar arrays can be contentious because at the siting stage, it becomes a land use issue replete with potential disamenities and trade-offs. We conduct a choice experiment survey to estimate preferences for attributes of utility-scale solar arrays in Rhode Island, United States. Our results suggest that the largest indicator of solar development approval is prior land use, with residents willing to pay an additional $10–$21 in monthly utility bills for developments in commercial, industrial, brownfield, and covered landfill areas, and $13–$49 to avoid developments on farm and forest land.