ABSTRACT
Conflicts sometimes arise over the siting of renewable energy facilities. This chapter starts with a discussion on the differences and similarities in comparison with conflicts over other controversial issues, such as nuclear power plants, chemical factories and the construction of roads. The main part of the chapter is concerned with the results from a case study of a failed attempt to site a biogas plant in southern Sweden. The results show that a lack of public participation in the early stages of planning and the local residents’ negative perceptions of the developer and of their ability to influence the decision contributed to opposition to the project and polarization of the conflict. The role of planning legislation in shaping processes that mitigate or accentuate conflicts is also discussed. The chapter concludes with the observation that the biogas case showed similarities to both traditional siting conflicts and other conflicts concerned with renewable energy.
