UK - Three quarters of Scots back wind farms, says new poll

A new survey conducted by leading research agency NOP World today (Mar 22) revealed almost three-quarters of Scots (73%) agree wind farms are necessary to help meet the country’s current and future energy needs. And Scots-based celebrity champions – including Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos, top actor Brian Cox, celebrity chef Nick Nairn, legendary broadcaster Magnus Magnusson and Changing Rooms designer Anna Ryder Richardson - added their backing for wind power. The popular support for wind was unveiled at the launch of the Scottish Embrace the Revolution campaign, which gives a voice to the large majority of Scots who back wind power. The poll result challenges myths put out by the anti-wind lobby of a vocal minority movement against wind power. The launch, at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, was hosted by Scottish Renewables and the British Wind Energy Association, and coincided with a high-profile exhibition of striking wind farm photography by the leading agency Magnum.
Other findings of the poll, which interviewed nearly 850 people in regions across Scotland, revealed that:

· More than half of Scots (52%) agree the appearance of wind turbines is unimportant
· Nearly half of Scots (49%) disagree with the statement that wind farms are ugly, with nearly a quarter (23%) saying they are neutral
· A majority support wind power in every Scottish region
The Scottish-based celebrities joined champions of the previously-launched UK campaign, including Guy Berryman from Coldplay, designer Wayne Hemingway, architect Lord Foster, TV presenter Kevin McCloud, and Chris Tarrant among the list of wind champions.

High profile supporters said:
Brian Cox, Hollywood actor commented: “If we are serious about tackling climate change and securing our energy sources for the future we must harness the great power of the wind. Scotland is well placed to lead the renewables revolution, let's not stand in its way.” Alex Kapranos, lead singer of Franz Ferdinand said: “Our modern lives depend upon easy access to huge resources of energy. We’re going to run out of fossil fuels so need to find an alternative resource. It’s unlikely that we’ll run out of wind so we may as well use that.” Magnus Magnusson KBE, writer and broadcaster said: “The wind is pure energy, raw and restless, an endlessly sustainable natural resource. Let's hug it, let's harvest it. Wind turbines, elegant giants of engineering, can harness that wild energy for our own purposes, subject only to appropriate environmental considerations. Scotland is the hall where the winds of the world meet in boisterous play - so let's make use of it. We in Scotland are on the threshold of a renewables revolution. Embrace the Wind, Embrace the Revolution!”

Scots can pledge support for wind at www.embracewind.com and get their name on a turbine. The web site is also a source of factual information on wind power.