Abstract
The present study examined how a multimodal, cinematic virtual reality (CVR) experience with a wind turbine affects expectations and perceptions of wind energy projects. By merging survey methods used in public attitudes research with a controlled, in-person laboratory experiment, we found that the CVR experience corrected prior erroneous beliefs concerning expected visual and acoustic impacts of wind turbines. Following exposure to CVR, participants’ expectations about auditory, visual, and general impacts of wind energy projects shifted positively, especially among participants with limited knowledge of or prior experience with wind energy. This latter group reported the largest pre-post changes in expectations. Taken together, these results suggest that CVR can be leveraged to more clearly communicate wind project development plans to the general public, especially when an audience's prior knowledge and experience with wind turbines is limited.