Date of Award

Summer 8-2025

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Economics

First Committee Advisor

Timothy Waring

Second Committee Member

Sharon Klein

Third Committee Member

Caroline Noblet

Abstract

As the United States advances its clean energy transition, utility-scale solar energy projects have become central to decarbonization efforts. However, the growing prevalence of community-level opposition to these projects presents a serious obstacle to achieving national climate and energy equity goals. This thesis investigates the socioeconomic, political, and spatial drivers of opposition to solar energy infrastructure across U.S. states between 2006 and 2023. It also explores viable strategies for addressing public resistance by drawing on qualitative insights and literature-based evidence. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates longitudinal panel data analysis, spatial clustering techniques, expert interviews, and a community-based survey in Maine. The study applied Fixed Effect and Random Effect Poisson and Negative Binomial, to evaluate the significance of various predictors of solar opposition. Key quantitative findings demonstrate that prior instances of solar opposition within a state significantly predict future occurrences, pointing to a self-reinforcing process. States with higher median income and greater income inequality also exhibit elevated levels of opposition, suggesting that socioeconomic privilege may heighten concerns over land-use, environmental justice, or exclusion from project benefits. Spatial analyses, which include Getis-Ord Gi* and Local Join Count statistics, reveal that opposition is not randomly distributed but spatially clustered. Hotspots were identified in the Northeast and parts of the Upper Midwest, indicating that regional policy diffusion and sociopolitical homogeneity may contribute to clustered patterns of resistance. These findings emphasize the importance of spatial context in solar development planning. To complement the quantitative results, qualitative data were collected through nine semi-structured interviews with energy experts in New England and responses from the Maine Community Sustainable Energy Survey. These showed widespread concern over procedural exclusion, lack of transparency, and aesthetic and land-use impacts. Both expert and public voices emphasized the importance of local engagement, trust-building, and fair distribution of economic benefits in minimizing opposition. Building on these findings, the study synthesized potential solutions from both empirical evidence and existing literature. A typology of responses was developed, organized into four strategic pillars: (1) policy incentives and regulatory coherence, (2) participatory planning and local ownership models, (3) strategic siting and technical customization, and (4) public education and information transparency. In conclusion, this thesis argues that solar opposition is a multidimensional phenomenon requiring equally multifaceted responses. Localized resistance can be mitigated through inclusive governance, distributive equity, and the design of solutions that align with community values. The results offer practical implications for policymakers, developers, and energy advocates seeking to advance socially just and widely accepted renewable energy systems.

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