Majority of Ontarians want wind energy

Ontario Wind Energy Support reflects strong public opinion for renewable energy, clean power projects, municipal policy leadership, environmental benefits, green jobs, and economic development across communities, according to Ipsos Reid polling for CanWEA.

A new Ipsos Reid poll commissioned by the Canadian Wind Energy Association CanWEA finds that nine in 10 Ontario residents support the production of wind energy in their region of the province for its economic and environmental benefits.

The level of support remains high even when respondents were asked if a wind project's location is within their own community.

"The poll found that 89 per cent of Ontario residents either strongly supported or somewhat supported wind energy in their region of Ontario, reflecting Ontario's commitment to wind power across the province," said Sean Simpson of Ipsos Reid. "Most also agreed 86 per cent that their municipal government should encourage and facilitate wind energy development, while a similarly high percentage 85 per cent believe wind energy can provide economic opportunities and benefits."

The poll also found that most Ontario residents think it is important that Ontario's electricity supply become more environmentally friendly, with environmental group support reinforcing these views, and that 87 per cent of those surveyed believe that wind energy has less impact on human health compared to other sources of electricity.

"This poll clearly indicates that wind energy enjoys broad support across the province, regardless of where residents live," said CanWEA president, Robert Hornung. "Those polled clearly believe that wind energy not only brings environmental benefits but it can also play a major role in spurring local and regional economic development. There is much to be optimistic about wind's future in the province, and the poll reflects the fact that Ontario citizens believe in the promise of this growing industry."

The poll is available online at http://www.canwea.ca/wind-energy/talkingaboutwind_e.php, where related discussion of a public relations problem is explored.

The poll was conducted June 25 to 30, 2010. For this survey, a sample of 1,361 adults living in Ontario from Ipsos' Canadian online panel were interviewed online, including residents in Southwest Ontario, Central Ontario, Northern Ontario, Eastern Ontario and the GTA.

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