Canada - National Poll finds that Canadians prefer wind energy over all other sources

The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), in association with The Strategic Council, released the results of its Wind Power Survey during its 24th Annual Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver. The national survey shows Canadians strongly support the development of renewable energy sources, and their first choice for energy is wind energy.

Canadians gave the following answers to a variety of questions on energy, energy sources, and the direction they believe industry and governments should move:

• 88% of Canadians are supportive of provincial governments requiring that a specific portion of electrical energy produced come from emerging renewable sources like wind and solar.

• 87% of Canadians are supportive of a vision to have wind energy satisfy 20% of Canada’s electricity needs by 2025.

• 81% of Canadians believe that the federal government should support the development of renewable sources.

• 67% of Canadians say all new demand should be met with renewable energy sources.

• 65% of Canadians say they are willing to pay more for renewable energy.

• 29% of Canadians say that wind energy would be their first choice if they could choose their source of electricity, while 32% felt it would be their second choice.

In conducting the Wind Power Survey, The Strategic Council undertook a national telephone survey of 1002 randomly selected Canadian households, proportional to the distribution of the population across the country. For a sample of this size, results are accurate to + 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. A total of 40 questions were asked respondents.

The entire Wind Power Survey is available at www.canwea.ca.

CanWEA is the voice of the wind power industry in Canada. It works on behalf of its 400 members to facilitate and promote the responsible and sustainable growth of wind energy across the country. Wind energy is an important component of Canada’s energy future, bringing new investment and employment while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. CanWEA’s annual Conference and Trade Show is being held in Vancouver Oct. 19 — 22.