NIMBY opposition to power plants falling

In other posts ( Unions using CON laws as a barrier to entry, Unions using zoning laws against Wal-Mart, and Make the local zoning rules or your rivals will) we have pointed out how firms and unions use local zoning rules to protect their competitive positions.

Now, the Saint Consulting Group reports that NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) opposition to power plants is falling.

Americans are waking up to the need for more electric power plants. The number of Americans who support power plant development in their hometown rose dramatically over the past year, according to the 2007 Saint Index(©) survey on attitudes toward real estate development.

Thirty-eight percent of American adults support a local power plant project, compared to just 23 percent in 2006 — a 15 percent rise.

Why is this important?

Development of real property has become agonizingly tough. What started on both coasts of the US has spread throughout heartland America: population density, maturing markets, and intense competition are causing battle lines to be drawn in numerous wars over how cities and towns are being developed.

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The outcomes are determining which companies gain market share, who wins local elections, and what communities are going to look like into the future.