A new survey claims people in the north-east are more open to having windfarms as part of their energy mix than the population in other parts of the country.
A study commissioned by trade body Scottish Renewables (SR) indicated 73% of people supported the development of wind energy, compared with 64% across the rest of the country.
The survey of 1,003 Scots, which included 140 from the north-east, found 72% of those in the region would support large-scale wind projects in their local council area, while only 62% of Scots across other areas would welcome turbines. SR chief executive Niall Stuart said: “These figures suggest a very significant level of support for wind energy and the benefits it brings to communities in the north-east.”
When asked which single source of energy they would prefer to receive, 29% of people in the north-east opted for hydro-electric, 20% for solar, 14% for win energy, 10% for nuclear and 8% for fossil fuels.
Morag McCorkindale, of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG), said: “These are extremely encouraging findings and demonstrate the fact that the energy industry is embedded in Aberdeen city and shire’s culture and economy.”
Hundreds of anti-windfarm campaigners meanwhile will descend on Inverness as the SNP hosts its spring conference on Saturday.
They have collected more than 4,000 signatures for a petition calling on Alex Salmond to protect Scotland’s scenic landscapes by abandoning the use of turbines.
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