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The polarization of energy preferences – A study on social acceptance of wind and nuclear power attitudes in Sweden
Stockholm University, Faculty of Science, Stockholm Resilience Centre. University of Gävle, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-2637-2024
Number of Authors: 42025 (English)In: Energy Policy, ISSN 0301-4215, E-ISSN 1873-6777, Vol. 198, article id 114492Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Using Sweden as a study case, this article explores the polarized opinions to wind and nuclear energy, two low carbon energy options that have been shown to be politically controversial. In a wide-scale survey (N = 5200), general attitudes to wind and nuclear energy are captured, as well as to projects in the proximity of people's homes. The study demonstrates a deep polarization of energy preferences in Sweden, finding strong associations between worldviews, political orientation, environmental concern, and support for or resistance to wind and nuclear energy. The study concludes that support for both energy options is reduced when wind or nuclear power is constructed near people's home, but also suggests that the proximity effect is particularly strong for individuals with strong TAN (traditional, authoritarian, nationalistic) values and right leaning political ideology. The article argues that politically motivated reasoning might explain the polarization of attitudes, yet this effect seems to become less relevant when people are asked to judge potential energy infrastructure located close them.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2025. Vol. 198, article id 114492
Keywords [en]
Energy policy, Motivated reasoning, Nuclear energy, Public acceptance, Renewable energy, Social Dominance Orientation, Socio-technical systems, Wind energy
National Category
Energy Systems Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:su:diva-241529DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2024.114492ISI: 001398817600001Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85214343006OAI: oai:DiVA.org:su-241529DiVA, id: diva2:1953792
Available from: 2025-04-23 Created: 2025-04-23 Last updated: 2025-10-03Bibliographically approved

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Barthel, Stephan

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