Saralnama
Former US President Donald Trump has claimed wind turbines are harmful, calling them a "con job" that affect wildlife and people, reflecting broader conspiracy theories about renewable energy. These theories, which include false health scares like "wind turbine syndrome," are linked to distrust of government and nostalgia for fossil fuels. Research shows belief in conspiracies is a stronger predictor of opposition to wind farms than demographics or politics, and presenting facts often fails to change these views. Wind farms, as visible symbols of climate policy, become targets for fears about modernity and control. This opposition is rooted in worldviews that reject the environmental costs of fossil fuels and resist the energy transition. Studies in countries like Germany, the US, UK, and Australia confirm that conspiracy mentality significantly influences resistance to wind energy projects, posing challenges for communication and policy efforts to accelerate renewable energy adoption. (Updated 23 Aug 2025, 19:11 IST; source: link)