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In recent years the number of wind farms in Portugal has grown exponentially as a result of political and economic pressure to achieve ambitious goals in relation to energy production through renewable sources. At a general level, this development has been marked by a consensual discourse (mitigating climate change, reducing external energy dependence), but at the situated, local level conflicts become visible (visual destruction of the landscape, adverse impacts on rural ecosystems, tourist activities and health). Based on an exploratory case study in the village of Sortelha, this article explores the conflicts over wind power, drawing also on other empirical sources, such as statistical data, environmental impact studies, press articles and blogs.