Imagined publics and engagement around renewable energy technologies in the UK

Barnett, Julie and Burningham, Kate and Walker, Gordon and Cass, Noel (2012) Imagined publics and engagement around renewable energy technologies in the UK. Public Understanding of Science, 21 (1). pp. 36-50. ISSN 0963-6625

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Abstract

Against the backdrop of the imperatives for actors within the institutional framework of energy socio-technical systems to engage with the public, the aim of this paper is to consider interdependencies between the principles and practice of engagement and the nature of the imagined publics with whom engagement is being undertaken. Based on an analysis of 19 interviews with actors in the renewable energy industry, the paper explores how publics are imagined in the construction of the rationales, functions and mechanisms for public engagement. Three main themes are identified. First, the perceived necessity of engagement - which is not contingent on public responsiveness. Second, engagement is primarily conceptualised in terms of instrumental motives of providing information and addressing public concern. Third, preferences for engagement mechanisms were often a function of the specific characteristics attributed to imagined publics. Implications of this analysis for future engagement around siting renewable energy technologies are considered.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Public Understanding of Science
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3315
Subjects:
?? RISKINFORMATIONWIND ENERGYCOMMUNICATIONTRUSTFRAMEWORKNIMBYRENEWABLE ENERGYKNOWLEDGESITINGCOMMUNICATIONSCIENTISTSPUBLICSCIENCEENGAGEMENTCOMMUNICATION ??
ID Code:
64781
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
24 May 2013 10:13
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
20 Sep 2023 00:31