ABSTRACT
As we have learned from our earlier chapters, particularly Chapter 5 on public acceptability, participatory processes for renewable energy facilities are central to siting success. The absence of such participation, for whatever reason, helps explain why different stakeholders do not perceive the benefi ts of renewable energy as a low-to no-carbon form of energy production in the landscape (Pasqualetti et al., 2002; Selman, 2010). Key factors to consider in this regard include participating in the planning process, trust or confi dence in renewable energy developers and decision makers, perceived equity in the landscape impacts, and economic benefi ts and costs from such facilities on ratepayers, property owners, and communities. Traditional participatory methods in landscape planning and environmental impact assessment have included facilitated group meetings or workshops, charrettes, and public hearings. The question is whether these approaches actually increase public acceptance of the new energy landscape.
