The
North Carolina Wind Energy Website at
Appalachian State University commissioned a survey in the Spring of 2010 by the Raleigh firm
Public Policy Poling. This survey polled residents of Western North Carolina regarding their attitudes toward wind energy in their state.
Questions from the survey included the following: Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from wind power?, Have you ever seen a modern wind turbine in operation?, What is your general attitude toward wind turbines?.
We’ve created a table showing some of the results from the survey, but click on the link below to read all the data (which includes a detailed breakdown of survey results by demographic).
| |
More |
The same |
Less |
Don’t know |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from wind power? |
85% |
5% |
5% |
4% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from solar power? |
82% |
10% |
3% |
5% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from hydroelectric power? |
50% |
29% |
11% |
10% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from coal? |
12% |
19% |
64% |
6% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from nuclear power? |
34% |
21% |
35% |
10% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina get more, the same, or less of our future electricity from natural gas? |
38% |
30% |
26% |
6% |
| Would you like to see North Carolina place more, the same, or less emphasis on encouraging energy efficiency in the state? |
84% |
10% |
3% |
4% |
| |
Very positive |
Positive |
Neutral |
Negative |
Very negative |
| What is your general attitude toward wind turbines? |
56% |
27% |
10% |
5% |
2% |
| In your opinion, what effect do wind turbines have on the appearance of the landscape? |
17% |
28% |
43% |
10% |
2% |
| In your opinion, what effect do wind turbines have on the environment? |
36% |
32% |
25% |
5% |
1% |
| |
Encouraged and promoted |
Allowed in appropriate circumstances |
Tolerated |
Prohibited |
Not sure |
| Studies of the wind resources in western North Carolina have shown that we have very good wind resources along our mountain ridges, and that these ridges would, in general, be the only adequate places for wind turbines in western North Carolina. Do you think placing wind turbines on mountain ridges in western North Carolina should be: |
35% |
45% |
6% |
10% |
5% |
| Wind turbines come in a variety of sizes from small residential or farm size turbines to large commercial scale wind turbines. The larger scale turbines can typically produce electricity less expensively and can produce significantly more electricity. Do you think placing a single large wind turbine on privately owned mountain ridge land in western North Carolina should be: |
35% |
45% |
7% |
7% |
6% |
| Do you think clusters of large turbines or wind farms constructed along privately owned mountain ridge land in western North Carolina should be: |
27% |
44% |
8% |
14% |
7% |
| Do you think placing a single residential or farm scale wind turbine on privately owned mountain ridge land in western North Carolina should be: |
43% |
38% |
8% |
5% |
6% |
| National Forests are public lands used for timber harvesting, watershed protection, mining and recreation. These lands do not include national and state parks such as the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Great Smokies National Park. Do you think that placing wind turbines on National Forest Lands in western North Carolina should be: |
24% |
43% |
8% |
20% |
5% |
| |
More likely |
Less likely |
No difference |
| In general, would the presence of wind turbines in western NC make you more or less likely to want to live here in western North Carolina? |
43% |
14% |
44% |
| |
Appropriate |
Too restrictive |
Far too restrictive |
Inappropriate |
Don’t know |
| North Carolina Legislators are considering legislation that would limit wind energy development on mountain ridges in western North Carolina to small windmills less than 100 feet tall that primarily produce electricity for use within a residence. These limitations would prohibit any larger scale commercial wind turbines on mountain ridges. Do you feel this legislation is: |
21% |
35% |
16% |
10% |
9% |
| |
Yes |
No |
Dont Know |
| Have you ever seen a modern wind turbine in operation? |
56% |
44% |
0 |
| In general, would you support a state wide wind energy permitting process, if it involved both state and county oversight and provided both the state and county with the ability to deny a permit if the project was considered to be inappropriate? |
67% |
12% |
21% |
View the original document of Wind Energy Poll Results.
