Contrary to the long-standing belief that people support renewable energy in theory but oppose it when built near them, a mindset often called NIMBYism ("Not In My Backyard"), new research shows a strikingly different reality when it comes to large-scale solar projects in the United States.

A recent survey published in Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy found that 82% of people living within an hour’s walk of existing solar farms either support or are neutral toward additional solar development in their area. Only 18% expressed opposition, suggesting that most nearby residents are not only tolerant but often supportive of renewable energy infrastructure in their communities.

The study, led by Dr. Sarah Mills of the University of Michigan, surveyed nearly 1,000 people living within three miles of large-scale solar installations built between 2017 and 2021. It covered 379 different solar sites across 39 states, ranging in size from 1 to 328 megawatts. On average, each project occupied about 400 acres, although some spanned over 2,000 acres, or roughly three square miles.

Some key findings of the study include:

• 43% of respondents had a positive opinion of the existing project near them

• 42% were neutral, and only 15% had a negative view

• When asked about future projects, 43% supported new builds, 39% were neutral, and 18% were opposed

One surprising insight is that people who were more familiar with the solar farm were slightly less likely to support additional development. Dr. Mills suggests this could reflect a feeling that their area has “done its part” in hosting infrastructure, rather than active dislike. Still, most respondents reported rarely seeing or even knowing about the solar farm near them, indicating that the average impact on daily life is low.

The study also revealed a general lack of public awareness about local solar farms, underlining the need for better communication and engagement from developers and policymakers. Despite this, the results strongly suggest that concerns over local opposition may be overstated, and that most communities are open to a solar-powered future.

This summary is based on original reporting by Frontiers in Sustainable Energy Policy, “‘Yes, in my back yard’: most people who live near large-scale solar projects are happy to have more built nearby,” edited by Sadie Harley and reviewed by Robert Egan (2025).

Read the full article here.