Rural Resistance to Renewable Energy: A Case Study of Cumberland Valley Township, PA

The United States’ energy transition is dependent on Rural America to shoulder the infrastructure of renewable development, but residents feel this threatens their identity, leading to opposition to renewable energy projects. This thesis employs a case study of the community's perspectives on a 7MW solar development in Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. Renewable energy is critical for addressing the climate crisis, yet place-based, historical, and procedural factors influence rural communities to view these developments with opposition and skepticism. This study includes original survey data and interviews with key residents, finding that opposition stems from concerns about land use, aesthetics, lack of transparency, and community engagement. Residents' place attachments and historical relationships to the land play a crucial role in shaping their perceptions. These findings illustrate the need for inclusive, transparent planning when putting renewable infrastructure in rural communities. Rural America needs to be a partner, not an obstacle, in the country’s energy transition. For renewable developments to be successful, they must observe local values, history, and priorities in the communities they are situated in.