Wind farm neighbours are more positive to wind power

Do all people oppose to living near wind farms? Well, when asked, it turned out that those who lived closer to turbines have a more favourable view of wind power than people living further away. This was one of the results which some may find surprising in a recent survey.

People may love cheap, climate-smart electricity, but few wind farms are ever built without lengthy processes that often involve petitions and appeals. Vattenfall’s 16 wind turbine Ray wind farm, located in Northumberland in north-east England, is no exception. After over a decade of planning and preparations, it finally started to produce electricity in 2017.

After five full years of operations at Ray, in the beginning of 2023, a survey was commissioned among the residents of the region to find out their attitudes towards wind power today. The results were partly surprising.

The closer the more positive

Contrary to popular belief, the study showed that three-quarters of those surveyed supported onshore wind farms and wanted to see more growth in the sector, compared to around 5 per cent who were opposed. Indeed, perhaps most surprisingly, those living closest to wind farms, specifically those living within five miles of existing wind farms in the region, were even more supportive of further development.

More than half of everyone surveyed thought that those who oppose wind farms make up a vocal minority, compared to the silent majority in favour.

Four in five want more information of the benefits

The poll also reveals a lack of knowledge about the benefits wind farms can bring both in improving the environment and biodiversity, the economic boost from community benefits, and the opportunities for upskilling, job creation, and the local supply chain. Nearly four in five wanted to know more about these benefits and three quarters of those surveyed would generally like more communication from wind developers such as Vattenfall.

This lack of awareness appears to be part of a larger problem as more than half of those surveyed in the North East do not know much or anything about the British government’s Net-Zero target. Three in five wanted to hear more about their local authority’s plans to tackle climate change and 72 per cent believe that the North East should do more to encourage investment by companies like Vattenfall in low carbon forms of energy in the region.