Monday, April 23rd, 2012
According to a new UK poll, a very strong majority of the British accept wind turbines on the landscape and two-thirds favor wind as an energy source.
The online survey polled people ranging from 16-64, asking them to rate the level of acceptability of the look of wind farms on the landscape on a 1-10 scale, 1 being unacceptable and 10 being completely acceptable. 57% gave a score between 7 and 10. One in six gave the scores between 1 and 4.
This poll is meaningful as the opposition to wind energy is now being further exposed as just a very vocal minority. The opposition has slowed turbine progress in all regions while also raising costs as the UK tries to achieve its climate targets.
“Opposition to wind farms is the reserve of a relatively very small, but a very noisy and vociferous minority that is causing more difficulties at a local level,” Adam Bell of RenewableUK stated. He goes onto explain the poll clearly shows there’s a “silent majority” that support the efforts to install wind turbines and accept wind power as a viable means of energy.
The UK has some of the most ambitious climate programs in the world with a goal of cutting 80% of 1990-level greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Wind power should be a part of their energy picture, but should the minority successfully lobby wind out of the picture, the government may have to look towards much more expensive renewable energy sources to meet the UK’s energy needs.
Article By Sam Schrader
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
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