Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England
Summary. Rural New England residents with strong environmental values still oppose renewable energy development and land-use regulation at higher rates than urban counterparts. The study of 1,400 residents reveals that rural identity itself predicts lower policy support, even among environmentalists. Place attachment combined with resentment toward cultural displacement drives opposition. Opposition stems not from economic concerns alone, but from symbolic factors: identity, belonging, and desire for local autonomy.
Cite this article
A, G. J.. (2025). Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England. Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College). https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1493
A, Grassi, Joseph. “Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England.” Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College), 2025. https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1493.
A, Grassi, Joseph. 2025. “Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England.” Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College). https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1493.
@article{a-2025-off-grid-rural-identity-environmentalism,
title = {Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England},
author = {Grassi, Joseph A},
journal = {Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College)},
year = {2025},
url = {https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1493}
}
TY - JOUR TI - Off the Grid: Rural Identity, Environmentalism, and Renewable Energy Policy in Rural New England AU - Grassi, Joseph A JO - Digital Commons - Colby (Colby College) PY - 2025 UR - https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/honorstheses/1493 ER -
Details
- Countries
- United States
- Regions
- North America
- Categories
- energy, policy, regional-innovation-systems, general-innovation
- Added
- 2026-05-01