Voices on the wind: An analysis of framing, credibility, and fairness in Ontario's wind power development

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Martin, Duncan Alexander Moore
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University of Guelph
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Wind energy generation has expanded rapidly in Ontario over the past decade and will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. Those opposed to wind developments have been left few avenues to express their dissent. The anti-wind movement has a marginal voice in light of broader support for wind development in Ontario, as urban areas host both wind support and the majority of Ontario's population. The ways in which anti-wind groups are framed in public media has an impact on how these groups are viewed. Through the review of 112 newspaper articles, this study identifies the frames applied to wind projects by both anti-wind groups and wind energy advocates and the frames these groups applied to themselves and to their opponents. This research assessed the credibility and accuracy of individual frames. It was found that the frames anti-wind groups use to support their opposition to wind projects are not credible. The frames used by anti-wind groups to criticize wind development are more credible, but are obfuscated by their discredited anti-wind frames. This paper concludes that the anti-wind movement in Ontario has been treated fairly in the development of wind power projects in the province.

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wind energy, wind energy generation, wind development, framing, credibility, wind proponents, anti-wind groups
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