Reference

Exeter Enterprises for the Department of Trade and Industry, February 1994

Research Objectives
To survey the attitudes of local residents towards the use of wind power both before, and after the construction of a ten-turbine wind farm at Delabole, Cornwall, and record any changes in attitudes over that period.

Methodology
A questionnaire was used at both pre and post both to a sample of residents within a Two km radius of the proposed wind farm in Cornwall, and to a control sample in Exeter.

Stage One (1990)
299 respondents within Two kilometres of wind farm site in Cornwall and 136 respondents in Exeter.

Stage Two (1992)
As many of the original respondents were interviewed as possible. The sample was split by age sex and social class to be as representative as possible.

Conclusions
1. The majority of respondents felt environmental issues were important and considered themselves 'green'.

2. Across the sample, the main advantages of wind power were perceived to be:

• Clean
• Doesn't cause pollution
• Never runs out
• Safe
• Help make coal and gas stocks last longer

3. The main disadvantages were perceived to be:

• Unreliable/dependent on wind
• Large numbers of turbines needed to generate as much energy as a coal fired power station

4. The Cornwall respondents were more aware of wind farms, and virtually all the respondents knew of the plans for Delabole, and a third knew of another wind farm; whereas only half of the Exeter group knew of Delabole, and a quarter of any other site.

5. At stage one, response was a significantly different between the Cornwall and Exeter respondents:

- 70% of the Exeter group and 40% of the Cornwall group said they approved of a wind turbine being built near their homes, and there was a higher number (31%) of objections to wind farms in Cornwall than Exeter (3%) prior to the wind farm being built.

- Cornwall respondents were also more likely to say that wind power was expensive to research and build, might spoil the scenery, or be noisy, and raised concerns about the cost of wind powered electricity, and interference with TV reception. Whereas only 7% of the control sample shared these views.

7. However by 1992 attitudes had changed significantly. In 1992, Cornwall sample were much greener, whereas the Exeter sample were less aware and supportive of conservatism.

In Cornwall (with six months experience of living with a wind farm near them) respondents were more positive than the Exeter group. Of the Cornish respondents 81% said the turbines made no difference, and only 16% said they made some difference.

8. Also at stage two, the number of Cornish respondents who approved or strongly approved of wind power had increased to 85%.

9. Wind power was still considered clean, safe and pollution free, and there was a decrease in those who thought turbines spoiled the scenery (from a half to a quarter) or caused noise nuisance (down from 86% to 20%). Two thirds of respondents felt wind farms did not disturb wild life. Concerns about TV reception and wildlife were also considerably reduced with experience. Indeed by 1992 over 80% of respondents felt that the wind farm was a potential tourist attraction!

10. However scepticism about cheap electricity, wind farms being expensive to research and build, and being unreliable, remained the same as in the first stage of research.

'Overall, the attitudes of the residents living in the area of the wind farm changed significantly in the period between the two surveys, becoming more favourable to wind energy - 27% of the sample considered that they had changed their attitude since the wind turbines had been operating .... of whom 90% had become more favourably inclined to the use of wind power.'

Market Research Associates, 1994

Objectives and Methodology
To establish attitudes of local residents to the wind farm at Cemmaes immediately after construction (phase one), and one year after (phase two) the wind farm became operational.

Face to face interviews with a structured questionnaire. 134 respondents in phase one and 118 in phase two.

Conclusions
1. Respondents' highest (environmental) concerns were controlling pollution (32%) and jobs (25% at phase one, 19% at phase two).

2.

3.

4. At both phase one and phase two 86% of respondents were in favour of Cemmaes wind farm. At stage one, safety, lack of pollution, prestige and economic gain were the main benefits cited.

At phase two, the number of perceived benefits had increased and included : environmentally friendly, renewable energy, natural and a way forward, pollution free, clean, healthier, safe energy, and better than nuclear.

Most of the minority who were not positive were neutral.

5. Visual Impact
92% claimed not to be bothered by the look of the wind farm. A tiny minority were negative (7%). Yet 72% of respondents saw the turbines every day. Only 6% of respondents spontaneously mentioned the look of the turbines at phase two, of whom only 12% had negative comments.

6. Noise
At phase two, 21 people (18%) could hear the wind turbines from their homes, of whom: 14 were not bothered, 4 thought the noise levels were OK for them and 3 were bothered by the noise.

7. Further Development
53% of respondents thought more wind farms should be developed in their area, and 82% agreed they should be developed in other areas.

'By the end of the first year of operation the 'vast' majority of respondents were still feeling positive about the wind farm. There has been little adverse reaction to it, and most people have proved generally supportive or unconcerned'.

BBC Wales, 1994.

Objectives

'To explore public attitudes to wind farms and cut through the hyperbole that surrounds wind farms to ascertain whether media stories of e.g. '24 Hour Noise Hell' are the views of a vociferous minority opposed to wind power or the tip of an iceberg of community discontent.'

Methodology
Interviews with 268 respondents, conducted in two stages; stage one being just after the wind farm was built and stage two one year later. The study looked at three locations, Llandinam, Rhyd-y-Groes and Taff Ely.

Conclusions
1. 67% of respondents were in favour of the development of wind power in Wales, and 21% were opposed.

2. At stage one, noise was the prime concern of the respondents. At stage two, only 57 respondents (21%) could hear the turbines, of whom 34 said the noise did not disturb their lives. More than half those who could hear the wind farm still supported it.

3. The majority (63%) of those who could see the turbines from their houses were in favour of their local wind farm.

4. Only 59 respondents changed their view of their wind farm between stage one and two. Of these 37 (63%) were in now favour, and 22 (37%) against.

5. In terms of visual appearance there were 115 positive comments and 97 negative ones.

'The research indicated an overwhelming degree of support for wind farms in Wales, and the three local wind farms upon which the research centred. Respondents had become more positive towards wind power following construction of their local wind farm and, even where turbines could be heard inside/outside respondents homes, this did not necessarily turn them against the wind farm.'

Research conducted by opposition group, November 1994

Research Objectives and Methodology
To establish community opinion to a proposed Wind farm near Hendre. The survey was carried out by a group opposed to the project. The respondents were sent a 'Fact sheet' prior to responding to the survey, prepared by the opposition group. The survey was amongst all occupied properties within 2.5 miles of the proposed Wind farm. There were 228 completed questionnaires.

Conclusions

• For 54
• Against 151
• No opinion 23
• Abstentions 8

The validity of the research is compromised by the respondents being sent 'Fact sheets' prepared by the opposition group prior to being interviewed.

Report for National Wind Power. RBA, March 1994.

Objectives and Methodology
To define overall attitudes to the wind farm.

254 interviews with residents within a 6 km radius of the Kirkby Moor wind farm site. Approximate quotas were set to ensure a broad spread of residential areas and as representative sample as possible.

Conclusions
1. 95% of respondents were aware of the wind farm at Kirkby Moor. Over half (54%) supported the proposals for the development of the wind farm when they first found out about them, and a further 34% were undecided.

2. 23% could see the wind farm from their house, of whom only 22% expressed concern, with 61% not at all concerned.

3. Noise was not an issue, only five respondents could hear the wind farm from their homes, only one of these respondents being fairly concerned about the noise.

4. The majority claimed the wind farm was as they expected it to be. Of those who thought the wind farm was different 16% thought it was better and 14% thought it was worse than they expected.

5. 82% supported the development of wind farms in the local area. (This is consistent with overall support for wind farms in Britain - also 82%). Only 10% opposed it. Support was strongest amongst men and younger residents.

6. The main concern about wind farms is whether they work effectively (46% very concerned), just over half were concerned about the look of the wind farm and 55% concerned with the number turbines. The main perceived benefits of wind power were:

The main perceived drawbacks of wind farms were:

'Support for the development in wind farms both in Britain and in the local area is very high in this area. This finding is especially good given the very high levels of awareness amongst these residents.'

Robertson Bell Associates, June 1993.

Objectives and Methodology
Prior to a planning application being granted, Radnorshire district council wanted to elicit local peoples' views. 250 face to face interviews with a structured questionnaire, spread across locations with head of households.

Conclusions
1. Knowledge of Wind Power: 62% knew a lot or a little about wind power, only 2% had never heard of it.

2. The main benefits of wind power were perceived to be:

3. Respondents were confident that wind power would be used to generate electricity in the next five years, with 60% saying it was already happening or was certain to, and a further 18% saying it was very likely. Indeed 94% claimed to know of a wind farm scheme.

4. 5% of respondents believed there would be some drawbacks to Wind Farms, and of these 44% were concerned with the visual impact of a wind farm and 84% with potential noise.

Respondents were asked how strongly they supported or opposed wind farms in Britain, in the area, and at Bryn Titli:

6. For the 10% of respondents who opposed the Bryn Titli wind farm, noise was a concern of 58%, and the location being too open a concern for 79%.

Chris Blandford Associates/University of Wales, February 1994.

Methodology
457 interviews in four survey areas, three in which construction was underway and a control.

Conclusions
1. In areas in which there was already a wind farm three quarters of the respondents were prepared to see wind farms in their neighbourhood. In the control area 47% agreed.

2. There was a clear preference for wind turbines to be on hill tops, wildernesses or coastal sites.

3. The opinions expressed about the development of wind power stations were remarkably favourable:

• 50-75% felt they were in keeping with the countryside
• that the development had been well designed
• and that it had little overall impact.

The majority of respondents in all three areas favoured further development, indeed, the respondents around Llandinam (by far the biggest development) were very favourable, with four out of five saying they were in favour of further construction.

4. Merits of Wind Farms

5. Negatives

6. Anticipated Benefits

7. Overall Evaluation

• Has caused little disruption - 81%
• Is not threatening - 79%
• Little impact on area - 68%
• In keeping with area - 61%
• Well designed - 58%
• Appropriate - 59%
• Liked - 36%
• Would favour more - 70%

'Comparison with the control area suggests that attitudes towards wind farm developments are more favourable where and when they actually take place, and residents are less likely to adopt a NIMBY position than the control sample'.

Research & Auditing Services Ltd, April 1994.

Wind Farms included Kirkby Moor, Haverigg, Delabole, Bryn Titli, Coal Clough, Cold Northcott and Blyth Harbour.

Methodology
970 questionnaires were completed by visitors to the open days.

Conclusions
1. 80% of the respondents were in favour of wind farms before the visit, 38% strongly approving, especially 17-34's year olds and those who live closest to wind farm sites.

By the end of their visit 92% approved of wind energy, i.e. a 12% increase as a result of the visit.

2.

3. Respondents who live within one to five miles were particularly positive, with 84-86% finding the noise levels acceptable. Only 20% of those who lived within a mile of the sites thought they spoiled the scenery.

4. 36 % respondents changed their views of wind farms as a result of their visit - of whom 32% were more positive and only 4% were more negative.

A survey of Local Residents, RBA, April 1995

Methodology
497 interviews in two zones - one very close to the site - the "Inner Zone", and one further away - the "Outer Zone". In the Inner Zone - all households were invited for interview - 73% achieved. A representative sample of 231 respondents were interviewed in the Outer Zone

Conclusions
1. 79% of respondents were in favour of renewable energy sources.

Main benefits - Spontaneous comments

• Good for environment 34%
• Clean 25%
• Cheap 19%
• Natural 10%
• Less CO2 emissions 5%
• Preserving future resources 4%
• Safe 3%

Main draw backs - Spontaneous comments

• Visual impact 42%
• Noisy 38%
• Danger to birds/wildlife 5%
• TV interference 3%

There was lower support for wind power in this survey compared with previous surveys, with 43% in support, a large proportion neutral 39%, and 18% opposed. (In comparison at Bryn Titli 75% support 15% neutral, 10% opposed).

5. There was little knowledge of how much electricity the wind farm generates, 66% did not know. Only 5% said it generated enough power for over 10,000 homes (in fact the wind farm would generate enough electricity for over 25,000 homes).

6. More people supported (37%) than opposed (23%) the proposed development, but the majority had no opinion.

Public Opinion Survey for Friends of the Earth, RBA, May 1996.

Objectives
To ascertain residents views on a range of environmental issues including the Sea Empress disaster, the importing and burning of orimulsion and renewable energy and efficiency

Methodology
604 residents. Face to face interviews. Quotas set by gender age, class and car ownership.

Conclusions regarding renewable energy sources
Two thirds of residents claimed to know a lot (15%) or a little (54%) about renewable energy.
83% said more electricity should be from renewable sources.
34% would use electricity from renewable sources, even if it cost more.

Liverpool University (Dissertation), May 1996.

Methodology
Questionnaire completed with interviewer present. Sample of 50.

Conclusions
1. 92% worry often or sometimes about the future of the environment. 80% discussed environmental issues with their family or friends often or sometimes.

2. The vast majority of sample felt that energy production using renewable sources was important. Peace and quiet and attractiveness of countryside were considered equally important.

3. The main advantages of wind power:

• Clean 26%
• Less pollution 20%
• Helps environment 10%
• Cheap 8%
• Efficient 2%
• Noise free 2%
• None 2%

4. The main disadvantages of wind power:

• Visual 28%
• None 10%
• Noise 6%
• Suitable sites 2%
• Tourism 2%
• People who object 2%
• Not effective 1%

5. 92% supported wind farm production. Only 4% strongly opposed it.

6. No-one could hear turbines from inside their house. 60% could see them.

7. When the wind farm was proposed, 64% respondents said they felt positive about the proposal, whilst 8% were strongly against it. When the survey was conducted, after some months of living with the wind farm, 80% felt positive about the wind farm (an increase of 16%) and 4% were against it (a decrease of 4%).