Ipsos MORI was commissioned by the Western Isles Development Trust (WIDT) to conduct a survey of residents views on renewable energy.

Key findings include;

• Almost equal support (41%) and opposition (40%) for the general principal of building major windfarms on Lewis.
• Of those who supported the principle of building major wind-farms on Lewis the main reason they gave (45%) was that they generally supported wind energy / that it is a clean way to generate electricity.
• Of those who opposed the principle of building major wind-farms on Lewis the main reason they gave for opposing (58%) was that the proposals would spoil the view / scenery.
• Small community owned windfarms gained most support (73%).
• 80% supported proposals to create a centre for the study, research and development of renewable energy in the Western Isles.
• 75% supported upgrading the link between the Western Isles and the National Grid.

Download the full topline results: Western Isles Residents Views On Windfarms pdf, 30KB

Technical Details

The survey was based on a survey of 601 residents of the Western Isles conducted by telephone between the 12-20 May 2006. The sample was distributed among island groups in proportion to their populations as follows:

Data are weighted by age, gender, working status and area. As the results are based on a sample, results are subject to a sampling tolerances.