Work

From anti-reflexive politicization to anti-reflexive policies: The emergence of renewable exclusion zones in United States environmental policy

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Renewable energy investment and development are necessary, if insufficient, parts of any climate policy agenda. Scaling up renewable energy projects to the level needed to impact greenhouse gas emissions, particularly wind and solar projects, takes up large amounts of space. As such, the rural United States may be uniquely positioned to benefit from an energy transition because of its plethora of land well-suited to host large-scale solar and wind operations. But, what if local governments in rural areas enact renewable exclusion zones, functionally banning large-scale renewable energy production within county limits? In this short paper, we focus on the case of Ohio to discuss trends in state and local policy that restrict renewable development, and argue that this represents an emerging tendency in the anti-reflexive movement from politicization ( i.e. , the strategic denial and obstruction of climate science and policy) of climate change to anti-reflexive policies precluding climate mitigation. We also highlight that many rural areas may represent a context of reception conducive for anti-reflexive messaging, an understated obstacle for green energy transitions.

Source: Energy Research & Social Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104648

Authors: Nicholas Theis, Amanda Sikirica, Mauricio Betancourt

Institutions: Kenyon College, University of Wyoming, Lee University, Washington and Lee University

Language: English

Topic: Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450