ABSTRACT
This chapter examines communication surrounding the Cape Wind Energy Project, a proposed offshore wind farm in Massachusetts. This research examined online news comments and compared them to the activist groups' messaging to measure public opinion about the Cape Wind Energy Project. Activist groups play important roles in opposing and advocating for public projects and shaping public discourse. Gallup polls show that a majority of Americans want more renewable energy projects pursued at a national level; however, these projects often conflict with people at a local or regional level. Researchers and journalists define this situation as the "Not In My Backyard" (NIMBY) effect. Entman explained how public relations uses frames: "Frames select and call attention to particular aspects of the reality described, which logically means that frames simultaneously direct attention away from other aspects". Given these possible variables, the results in this study may be unique to the Boston Globe, Cape Wind, these online audiences, and this specific time frame.
