Polyvalent Meaning of Community Wind Power Movements: Comparing with Anti-Nuclear Movements in Japan

After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, the opposite opinion to nuclear power plants and the expectation for renewable energy are growing in Japan. Because the electric supply is monopolized by major electric power companies, people cannot choose the company which sells electric power. Furthermore, the electric power companies are trying to carry out re-operation of nuclear power plants and to keep the exclusive structure of an electric supply. Therefore, the number of citizens who protest against the monopoly has increased, and people who desire to abolish the nuclear power plants, hope for the expansion of renewable energy.

Therefore it’s said that these renewable energy movements are connected with “anti-nuclear” movements. Those who support the anti-nuclear movements construct the dominant discourse –“anti-nuclear”, by relating various points at issue with anti-nuclear after Fukushima disaster. However, does the strategy of anti-nuclear movements have the backing of public opinion?

This report aims to clarify this question by answering why the community wind power movements become popular in Japan, using data of investors for the community wind power. The community wind power movement has stated from ten years before, 12 sets of wind power have already worked now.

The results are following: The participants in early community wind power movements were those who had joined in the anti-nuclear movement. As the number of the investors increased, their social attitudes become wide, and they had various motivation for the investigation, not only environmental consciousness, but the commitment to windmill and the expectation for a dividend.

If the administration of community wind power emphasizes the anti-nuclear too much, the number of the participants in a renewable energy enterprise will decrease. This result shows that it’s significant for sustainment of social movements to keep participant's various motivations, and the renewable energy movements related with  “anti-nuclear” is too simplified.