Canadians Strong for Wind - CANWEA-BACKED PUBLIC POLL

Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA)

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The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) has released results of a new opinion poll which shows that an overwhelming majority of Canadians (82 percent) are interested in buying wind-generated electricity.

The poll, organized by Nor'wester Energy Systems, Ltd., of Calgary, Alberta, and funded by Kenetech Windpower (Quebec), Vestas American Wind Technology, CanWEA and in kind by Nor'wester, was held in mid-August and was conducted by the Environics Research Group with Synergistics Consulting (The Environmental Monitor). It polled 1,500 adult Canadians across the nation by telephone.

Some of the results include:

Given the choice of buying wind-generated electricity for about the same price as electricity from other sources, 82 percent of Canadians said they wished to do so. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed said they would definitely buy the wind-generated electricity, and another 35 percent say they would probably buy it.
When asked how important a priority the expansion of wind-generated electricity should be for their provincial electric utility, 35 percent of those responding said it should be a major priority and 44 percent a moderate priority. Only 15 percent felt it should be a minor priority.
Seventy percent of Canadians want their provincial electrical utility to pay for expansion of wind power as part of its overall mix of generating sources, and pass on the costs to all of its customers. Another 23 percent would choose the option of having their household supplied by wind energy, even if it meant paying more ("green pricing").
If their utility offered the option, 63 percent of respondents said they would be interested in paying more to have their households supplied with wind energy. 19 percent of Canadians say they would definitely pay a bit more while 44 percent say they would probably do so.
When those interested in the green pricing option were asked how much more they would be willing to pay per month for wind-generated electricity, fully 59 percent said they would pay over $10 more per month, with 31 percent willing to pay over $20 per month.

The detailed polling results show provincial statistical breakdowns, and are expected to be used by the funding participants for market research, customer targeting, to enhance lobbying efforts, and to raise the positive profile of wind energy to decision makers, CanWEA said in a news release.

The CanWEA poll is the latest in a long series of opinion surveys that have recorded the public's strong preference for renewable energy (see Wind Energy Weekly #629, January 9, 1995, for results of a major survey in the U.S.)

Participants in the poll, CanWEA said, have expressed interest in conducting additional polls in the future, and sharing the costs, with CanWEA leading the group. For information on participating, contact CanWEA, 100, 3553 - 31 Street, NW, Calgary, AB T2L 2K7, Canada, phone (800) 9-CANWEA (in Canada) or (403) 289-7713, fax (403) 282-1238, e-mail . The next poll could be held as early as December or January, CanWEA said.

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The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has authorized me to offer an electronic edition of its newsletter, _Wind Energy Weekly_, from which the above article is excerpted, at no cost.

For those of you who have not previously seen excerpts from back issues, the _Weekly_ reports on the outlook for renewable energy, energy-related environmental issues, and renewable energy legislation in addition to wind industry trade news. The electronic edition normally runs about 10kb in length.

The free electronic edition of the _Weekly_ is intended as an educational publication for those without a commercial interest in the wind energy industry. If your interest in wind is commercial in nature, please write to for more information about AWEA membership and publications.

If you would like a free electronic subscription, send me an e-mail request. Please include information on your position, organization, and reason for interest in the publication.

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Tom Gray                		  tomgray@econet.org
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