Do people really believe that anti-offshore wind farm movements primary aim is to gather local community support in order to protect the environment and community values?
Facts often don’t matter to these groups. To get emotive attention groups spread misinformation and falsehoods, such as offshore wind turbines kill whales. It’s a similar playbook as that used by Anti-vax conspiracy groups and the ‘Vote No’ to the voice Referendum. Block, create doubt, fear and confusion (which is fanned by political interests) and then turn the community against to delay the transition.
Misinformation is effective, especially when shared online. It is challenging to argue against it, and nowadays people often disregard facts and science unless it aligns with their narrative and beliefs. This is particularly evident when discussing clean energy, as many people become quite emotionally charged.
Fossil fuel proponents and conservative politicians have shifted their stance from denying climate change to criticising the environmental credentials of green energy.
The Green Outlaw 