“Rural exploitation” in solar energy development? A field survey experiment in South Korea on solar energy support in rural areas

Abstract

As renewable energy facilities are predominantly installed in rural areas, the geographical mismatch between the production and consumption of renewable energy is prominent. In various cases of rural opposition to renewable energy development, rural opponents often translate this mismatch into the narratives of “rural exploitation” to mobilize further opposition. These narratives highlight that renewable energy development places growing burdens on rural communities, thereby provoking a sense of distributive injustice among rural residents. Using a regression analysis with data collected from a field survey experiment in South Korea, this study shows that the narratives of rural exploitation decrease support for solar energy among rural residents, particularly if they live in more remote, economically underprivileged rural areas. Our finding highlights that a broader historical context of rural-urban inequality should guide our understanding of the motivations and conditions of rural opposition to renewable energy development.