This paper concerns the pioneering commercial wind farms in Tarifa, in the context of the Spanish wind energy. Teething problems and mistakes at Tarifa help understand critical success factors for sustainable development of the wind industry and to form policies accordingly. In Tarifa, there have been fewer local benefits than might have been possible and this has resulted in social dissatisfaction. Yet social acceptance of wind energy is crucial, due to the local opinion and environmental impact. The study shows that profitability is not the only measure of success in the wind industry. Legal and administrative procedures concerning the environmental performance of wind energy have grown from non-existence to dominance, and the industry is now subject to greater environmental monitoring than other far, usually more harmful, forms of power generation. Willingness to promote wind energy as a real alternative to conventional energy sources is essential in order to combat climate change and other environmental hazards.
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