Influence of Wind Turbines on Farmlands’ Value: Exploring the Behaviour of a Rural Community through the Decision Tree

Giovanni Ottomano Palmisano, Annalisa De Boni, Rocco Roma and Claudio Acciani
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Giovanni Ottomano Palmisano: International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies of Bari, CIHEAM Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Annalisa De Boni: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DISAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
Rocco Roma: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DISAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy
Claudio Acciani: Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DISAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 17, 1-25

Abstract: The relationship between wind energy and rural areas leads to the controversial debate on the effects declared by rural communities after wind farms or single turbines are operative. The literature on this topic lacks dedicated studies analysing how the behaviour of rural communities towards wind turbines can affect the market value of farmlands. This research aims to examine to the extent to which the easement of wind turbines can influence the market value of farmlands in terms of willingness to pay (WTP) by a small rural community, and to identify the main factors affecting the WTP. Starting from data collected via face-to-face interviews, a decision tree is then applied to investigate the WTP for seven types of farmland in a rural town of Puglia Region (Southern Italy) hosting a wind farm. Results of the interviews show a broad acceptance of the wind farm, while the decision tree classification shows a significant reduction of WTP for all farmlands. The main factors influencing the WTP are the education level, the possibility to increase the income, the concerns for impacts on human health and for maintenance workmen. National and local policy measures have to be put in place to inform rural communities about the ‘magnitude’ of the effects they identified as crucial, so that policy-makers and private bodies will contribute to make the farmland market more equitable.

Keywords: wind farm; rural areas; willingness to pay; decision analysis; decision tree (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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