Navigating sustainability trade-offs in wind energy governance: The role of environmental regulators

Many countries have embraced wind energy as a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing sustainability goals. However, wind projects frequently face opposition due to their impacts on landscapes, biodiversity, and local communities, creating a regulatory dilemma. Environmental regulators must balance the promotion of renewable energy with the need to mitigate ecological and social costs. This challenge is particularly pronounced in Israel, where ambitious renewable energy targets intersect with the country's position along a major bird migration route and its diverse, sensitive ecosystems. This study examines how environmental regulators navigate these trade-offs, focusing on the evolving stance of the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection on wind energy. Amid mounting pressures from energy authorities, private developers, environmental NGOs, and local communities, the Ministry eventually adopted an unprecedented position—advocating for a nationwide halt on new wind energy projects due to escalating environmental concerns. However, with limited regulatory authority, this position has primarily led to heightened scrutiny and more selective project approvals rather than an outright moratorium. This qualitative study illustrates how environmental regulators influence and respond to complex stakeholder dynamics in wind energy governance, offering valuable insights for countries facing similar sustainability trade-offs. • Wind energy supports climate goals but raises ecological and social concerns. • This study examines environmental regulators' evolving role in wind energy governance. • It conceptualizes regulators as active players shaping policy, not just neutral enforcers. • It analyzes the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection's shifting stance on wind projects. • Findings highlight how regulators navigate competing interests, alliances, and governance constraints.