Most like wind farms - study

Yass Tribune
Wednesday 10/10/2007 Page: 9

A new study has found communities in the Southern Tablelands are overwhelmingly supportive of wind farm projects to combat global warming. The survey of 300 people in the Goulburn - Crookwell - Yass areas found 89 per cent of local residents were in favour of wind farms being developed in the Southern Tablelands, including 51 per cent who were strongly in favour, Epuron Pty Ltd Executive Director Andrew Durran said last week. Mr Durran said the region includes an existing wind farm at Crookwell and contains sites for the majority of proposed wind farms in NSW so those surveyed were clearly well informed about the realities of wind energy projects.

"What we have found is an overwhelming majority of people - 96 per cent - view wind energy favourably, particularly in the face of widespread concern about the threat of global warming," Mr Durran said. "Furthermore, 83 per cent of people agree they would be happy to see a wind farm built on farm land near where they live. In fact, 71 per cent of people favoured a wind farm located just 1km from their home. These are people who are already living close to wind farm projects and well publicised proposed projects"