I should be enjoying a newly remodeled Master Bathroom right now. But more about that in a bit…
As I have alluded to in past Posts, I have been monitoring the development of a couple of solar farms near where I live. But I have also been following stories of NIMBYism from across the country, including places like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Mexico. I have been doing this to try to understand NIMBYism better, both the arguments that are being made and the activities the NIMBYs are undertaking.
Here are my current thoughts as it relates to NIMBYism associated with projects designed to address climate change.
The Kids Aren’t NIMBYs
If you think about it, this is really stating the obvious. Adults (pick your age bracket) have the money, wealth, property, and power. The youth have none of these. What they have is fear, anxiety, and an increasing feeling of helplessness regarding their climate inheritance. And for this or other reasons, they are not participating in the discussions over energy projects or showing at hearings and meetings about those projects.
I will be writing soon about young people and climate change, but in terms of NIMBYism, think of it this way: Older people may look at a field of solar panels and see something ugly. Young people look at that same field of panels and see hope.
NIMBYs are a true dilemma for Local Officials and Farmers
As seems to always be the case, some people find themselves in the middle when it comes to NIMBYism on energy projects. Local town or county officials must deal with the part of their constituency that are NIMBYs while also trying to do right by everyone, especially when projects can provide a windfall of revenue that could be used for education or other areas needing funding.
Another dilemma is faced by the people that find themselves owning farmland or forest that is near a transmission line or substation (which are considered premium spots because they lower the cost of a project). A farmer in such a location might earn a lot of revenue from hosting a renewable project. But other nearby farmers and neighbors don’t get anything.
A couple of examples of this are here and here.
The NIMBYs Are Not Only Abutters
The most obvious candidate to be a NIMBY is an abutter to the site where a project will be located. This doesn’t only mean those who would share a property line with it. It can mean those close in proximity to the project, or those who claim to be proximate to it.
But NIMBYism can go much wider than that. When it comes to solar farms, some people revolt against a project just “being there”. They don’t want to see land taken up by something that they see as destroying the open, rural nature of the area. This is understandable. Most people want to preserve nature, habitats and the general environment and landscapes.
But some NIMBYs go so far as being against a project even if the location and construction results in it being difficult to see.
Local NIMBYs Are Getting Supported by a National Organization
When it comes to energy projects, don’t assume that it is just a local reaction to something. As the NPR piece below describes, there is national coordination and support, including the spread of misinformation, being provided across the country by a group called Citizens for Responsible Solar. The group was active in 10 states as of earlier this year.
If you follow no other link in this Blog Post, you ought to check out this one.
I have approached several organizations, foundations, and renewable energy companies on the idea of creating some national support for countering NIMBYs, but so far, I can’t report getting any traction.
There Are NIMBYs When It Comes to Non-Energy Climate Projects
I suspect that solar farms are what comes to mind when you think of NIMBYs. But projects focused on resilience can also attract that kind of opposition. Here is an example of that related to building a seawall on the coast of New Jersey.
Project Developers Are Often Their Own Worst Enemy
There was a point in my career where I worked for the company that developed the first Independent Power Project (IPP) and the Iroquois pipeline (a then new project in New York and New England. I had to learn quickly how to talk to and with the local community residents and how to win a local government vote.
It stymies me that developers have in some instances not gotten better at this. But I have seen in person some stupid statements made that infuriated the crowd. And look at these unbelievable statements made by the developer of a proposed carbon sequestration project in Indiana.
But as this piece ponders, environmentalists need to learn and change also.
Most States Are Doing Nothing to Address NIMBYism
To my knowledge, only three states have moved at the state level to address and mitigate renewables-related NIMBYism.
Meanwhile, a Report from Columbia University issued last May found that renewable energy projects have encountered significant opposition in 45 states. It also found that 228 local laws, ordinances, and policies have been enacted in 35 states to restrict such projects.
Most People Are Not NIMBYs – They Are YIMBYs
It turns out that most NIMBYism stems from the squeaky wheel of a minority of people.
A recent Washington Post-University of Maryland Poll found that 75% of Americans would be comfortable living near a solar farm (and almost 70% say the same about wind turbines)
Turning to the inescapable political breakdown of that data, 66% of Republicans say that are OK being near a solar farm and 87% of Democrats say the same.
The poll showed similar numbers (around 70%) in each of the rural, suburban, and urban categories.
I know that some respondents to these questions may answer one way in the abstract and then think again when a project is proposed next to them. But still the poll numbers are encouraging in a climate mitigation context.
Here’s the Rub - YIMBYs Are Not Showing UP
If, as noted above, most people are not NIMBYs, that doesn’t help address the NIMBY problem if they are a silent majority. Right now, only the NIMBYs are active and organized relative to a project. Only the NIMBYs show up at hearings and meetings.
And I bet at this point that you have forgotten about my bathroom….
I have been following development of one particular solar farm project in the area where I live. Recently, the State Public Utility Commission held an official but informal hearing to get input from the general public on the project.
I did not sign up to speak, as I just wanted to observe and further my understanding of NIMBYism. (I already knew from attending a previous local government meeting on the project that there was an organized NIMBY group)
During the hearing, only one person got up to speak in support of the project, noting the benefits of the site and its location to transmission lines and other site-specific characteristics.
When everyone who had signed up to speak had done so, the Commission asked if anyone else wanted to speak.
I raised my hand.
My comments were brief and did not really address the specific project nor endorse it. I first noted that in all the hours of comments that had just been made, no one mentioned climate change. Yes, there were several commenters who said they supported (if not loved) solar but that they wanted it to happen somewhere else. I made the point that in the context of climate change, we need a lot of solar energy in a lot of places.
My second point was to ask everyone present to look around the auditorium and note that there are no young people in the room. I talked about the rising rate of climate anxiety among our young people. I talked about the need to think in terms of intergenerational inheritance and legacy. I told them, as I noted earlier, young people likely view a solar farm not as ugly, but a sign of hope – at a time when hopelessness among them is increasing.
My bathroom contractor was someone who had already done a couple of projects at my house. We had been discussing the bathroom project since late winter. I had already purchased some items to be installed, and he and I had exchanged numerous messages in the weeks preceding the hearing on the project.
My contractor was not in the audience that night, but he lives in the Town where the project is to be deployed. He does not live anywhere near the project site. Now it may be a coincidence, but since that night and to this day I have not heard from that contractor no matter how many emails, voicemails, and text messages I have sent.
I would like to be using a new bathroom right now, but I am not sorry I got up to speak. And it is important that you get up to speak as well. It is natural human nature that the people that feel personally impacted by something show up to try to stop it. But as someone once said in so many words - more than half the game of winning is showing up.
YIMBYs and NIMBYs
Climate advocates and supporters must understand that NIMBYs can have legitimate arguments and claims. NIMBYs must be recognized and heard. But when appropriate, those arguments need to be countered. And often they are not. Those who don’t feel personally impacted tend to not be active – and don’t speak up. These people also can be reluctant to get active because they are criticized in the context of “easy for you to say – you are not the one personally impacted”. Acknowledgement of that by a YIMBY must be part of the dialogue.
And it's not just for adults. Large numbers of young people across the country are active in climate advocacy. But in addition to holding signs and poster in parades and other events, why not hold them outside a hearing or meeting on a solar project? They could do that without saying anything about the specific project. They could help remind people what is at stake.
My final thought on showing up …
One of my favorite quotes that has guided a lot of my career activity and many of my personal victories comes from the late Jimmy Valvano, the charismatic Coach of North Carolina State. When talking about basketball strategy during a game he said, “you have to put yourself in position to win”. He explained that by doing that, one may or may not win the game, but by not doing that, the chances of winning at the end of the game are slim.
YIMBYs need to put themselves in a position to help renewable energy projects win. YIMBYs need to show up. Think about it.