Renewable energy initiatives like building new wind and solar farms have multiplied as a global push to reinforce sustainability initiatives has taken off in recent years. However, despite the benefits for these necessary renewable energy plans, pushback from residents, as well as local governing agents, has grown in tandem. 

Linda Poon of CityLab reports,"The U.S. now has a total of 2 million solar panels—half of which were installed in just the last three years—capable of generating nearly 70 gigawatts [...] But while the American public increasingly supports expanding green energy, they often don't want to see the actual facilities that would generate that power." 

Poon reports that in both the West and East Coast regions of the U.S, Americans remain aggressively opposed the construction of new solar farms. Maybe these "anti-solar" attitudes are focused on aesthetics? For some, yes, but also, these concerns, according to the report, also tap into political, social, and economic fears. Poon connects with environmental politics professor Juliet Carlisle at the University of Utah and director of the Energy Democracy Initiative John Farrell for more insight. Both explain why public attitudes towards these types of energy developments have hardened in some areas. 

Farrell shares, "People get really concerned about their neighborhoods changing in ways they're not familiar with [...] Part of it is not understanding that solar technology is pretty benign; there are no moving parts." Carlisle adds, "Trust matters. [You want] the sense that [residents] are being involved in the process, that developers are making sound decisions and taking into consideration local sentiments and opinions, and perception and fears."