Is local opposition taking the wind out of the energy transition?

Local opposition to the installation of renewable energy sources is a potential threat to the energy transition. Local communities tend to oppose the construction of energy plants due to the associated negative externalities (the so-called 'not in my backyard' or NIMBY phenomenon) according to widespread belief, mostly based on anecdotal evidence. Using administrative data on wind turbine installation and electoral outcomes across municipalities located in the South of Italy during 2000-19, we estimate the impact of wind turbines' installation on incumbent regional governments' electoral support during the next elections. Our main findings, derived by a wind-speed based instrumental variable strategy, point in the direction of a mild and not statistically significant electoral backlash for right-wing regional administrations and of a strong and statistically significant positive reinforcement for left-wing regional administrations. Based on our analysis, the hypothesis of an electoral effect of NIMBY type of behavior in connection with the development of wind turbines appears not to be supported by the data.