This study explores local socio-economic and environmental perceptions of wind energy development in Alta Irpinia, a rural region in Southern Italy. Employing semi-structured interviews, this qualitative research investigates key informants perspectives on wind farms, emphasizing tensions from territorial appropriation and community marginalization. The paper highlights the conflicts between the energy transition and the preservation of territorial identity, illustrating how the current development model may intensify socio-economic inequalities, cultural alienation, and environmental degradation. The study concludes with policy recommendations to align technological innovation with the preservation of local identities, enriching the discourse on sustainable energy transitions.