Jessica Hogan — a two-time CCSF Scholar — is completing her doctoral studies in Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, where she is exploring how different models of ownership of onshore wind farms influence public attitudes towards these projects. These public attitudes are important factors in the wider energy transition away from fossil fuels because negative attitudes can delay or halt the development of renewable energy projects. However, when community ownership is integrated into projects, acceptance rates have been often found to be higher. The drivers of community acceptance are not well understood, so Jessica has been exploring varying levels of community ownership in wind energy projects to understand the effects on societal acceptance. She has also been investigating specific wind energy projects in rural areas across different socio-political contexts: Scotland and Newfoundland.
Scotland has an ambitious renewable energy programme, significant socio-political buy-in for the development of wind energy, and many examples of community ownership in onshore wind projects. Newfoundland offers an opposing context where there is limited onshore wind development, despite significant potential (and the greatest potential of the Canadian provinces and territories) and limited, if any, opportunities for community ownership for these projects. Jessica has surveyed and studied exemplar rural Scottish communities where wind energy has led to innovative local energy solutions, strengthened community engagement, and helped to diversify the economic base — all of which help to underpin the viability of rural communities. Using Scotland as a model, Jessica is keen to use her research to provide an adapted framework for wind energy development in Canada. This work is especially relevant for Newfoundland and Labrador where communities, historically reliant on the fishing industry, have been heavily affected by the 1992 Cod Moratorium. Newfoundland and Labrador continue to experience economic challenges and wind energy offers one route to providing rural communities with power — literally and figuratively, through the provision of new prospects.
This fall Jessica will be traveling to Newfoundland to interview residents already living with wind energy, an especially important time as the moratorium on wind energy was lifted in the province earlier in 2022. By seeking to find a balance between climate ambitions, economic development, and fairer energy systems within an ever-warming climate, Jessica’s doctoral work is a very timely contribution to energy and governance research. This work has potential to directly inform policy and thus to deliver immediate and lasting impact in the UK, Canada and more widely.
Jessica was awarded the del Messier Family Scholarship 2022 – 2023
Jessica Hogan — a two-time CCSF Scholar — is completing her doctoral studies in Geography and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, where she is exploring how different models of ownership of onshore wind farms influence public attitudes towards these projects. These public attitudes are important factors in the wider energy transition away from fossil fuels because negative attitudes can delay or halt the development of renewable energy projects. However, when community ownership is integrated into projects, acceptance rates have been often found to be higher. The drivers of community acceptance are not well understood, so Jessica has been exploring varying levels of community ownership in wind energy projects to understand the effects on societal acceptance. She has also been investigating specific wind energy projects in rural areas across different socio-political contexts: Scotland and Newfoundland.
Scotland has an ambitious renewable energy programme, significant socio-political buy-in for the development of wind energy, and many examples of community ownership in onshore wind projects. Newfoundland offers an opposing context where there is limited onshore wind development, despite significant potential (and the greatest potential of the Canadian provinces and territories) and limited, if any, opportunities for community ownership for these projects. Jessica has surveyed and studied exemplar rural Scottish communities where wind energy has led to innovative local energy solutions, strengthened community engagement, and helped to diversify the economic base — all of which help to underpin the viability of rural communities. Using Scotland as a model, Jessica is keen to use her research to provide an adapted framework for wind energy development in Canada. This work is especially relevant for Newfoundland and Labrador where communities, historically reliant on the fishing industry, have been heavily affected by the 1992 Cod Moratorium. Newfoundland and Labrador continue to experience economic challenges and wind energy offers one route to providing rural communities with power — literally and figuratively, through the provision of new prospects.
This fall Jessica will be traveling to Newfoundland to interview residents already living with wind energy, an especially important time as the moratorium on wind energy was lifted in the province earlier in 2022. By seeking to find a balance between climate ambitions, economic development, and fairer energy systems within an ever-warming climate, Jessica’s doctoral work is a very timely contribution to energy and governance research. This work has potential to directly inform policy and thus to deliver immediate and lasting impact in the UK, Canada and more widely.
Jessica was awarded the del Messier Family Scholarship 2022 – 2023