Wind power project: TU Ilmenau seeks interview partners for survey

At the beginning of the scientific study on the public discussion in the context of the wind power project Großschwabhausen, the Group for Empirical Media Research and Political Communication of the TU Ilmenau had examined two sources: Media coverage and the discussion in an online forum to which the initiators of the project, the citizens of Großschwabhausen and neighbouring villages, had invited. The head of the department, Prof. Jens Wolling, was surprised by the result: "So far, it is mainly the opponents of the wind power project who have had their say in the media. This is unusual, because journalists normally try to hear both sides. The actual special feature of the project, namely that the turbines are to be realised by energy cooperatives run by citizens, has so far only been mentioned in passing or not at all in the media."

Great interest among the population

In contrast, the Ilmenau scientists determined from their analysis of the online forum that the citizens had formulated their questions very objectively and that many were very interested in learning more about the project. Prof. Jens Wolling had not expected such an open atmosphere at the online event:

After the one-sided reporting in the media and the unanimous positioning of the municipal council against the project, expected a heated atmosphere. However, the mood among the population is apparently not as unanimous as the municipal council resolution suggests. The wind power project in Großschwabhausen is particularly interesting from a scientific point of view because it was initiated as a joint project by several citizens' energy cooperatives, i.e. by the people from the region themselves.

The Ilmenau scientists are asking themselves whether and how the initiators of the project succeed in communicating to the citizens in the region in a comprehensible way what is different about this project than typical investor projects.

Citizens are surveyed for scientific study

In order to find out the opinion of the population, the Ilmenau scientists will conduct interviews with the residents of the affected locations in the coming weeks. Prof. Wolling and his team are interested in whether people still need information and what expectations they associate with the project: "We want to find out about people's concerns and fears as well as their positive expectations and wishes. That's why we're interested in hearing from anyone who wants to express their views on the wind power project, regardless of how they feel about it."

Interviews will be conducted by telephone and will last approximately 15 minutes. Anyone available for a telephone interview should email jens.wolling@tu-ilmenau.de or call 03677 69-4654 to arrange an appointment.