Goal dependency and environmental impact assessments in the establishment of wind energy facilities in South Africa

Global environmental pressure and South Africa's current energy crisis have increased the urgency to transition away from coal-generated power. Wind is touted as the most benign of renewable energy sources, but there are environmental side effects. This study uses the concept of goal dependency to critically investigate environmental impact assessments (EIAs) for wind energy facilities in South Africa. The question is whether the goal of transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy overrides the goal of protecting the environment. We investigated 22 EIA reports and conducted interviews with 10 key informants. We found that while the EIA reports generally comply with regulatory standards, their integrity is compromised by the policy goal of speeding up the transition. Consequently, we have concerns about the public participation process, the cumulative impacts, and the lack of strategic government oversight of post-construction mitigation. The urgency of renewable energy development threatens to undermine the equally urgent goal of environmental protection. We recommend stronger regulatory oversight, a coherent economic and ecological vision, and targeted mitigation strategies.