Nordic Wind Energy Center is planning three different surveys to these three groups to come closer to understanding their current positions and opinions in different questions concerning wind power. Our primary goal is to produce a more efficient debate between the three groups. With better knowledge of what the groups see as a fair deal for developing wind parks and which questions that need to be addressed, the debate is easier to follow out.

The first questionnaire, the society questionnaire, is now sent out to residents in Finland. The center would like to study four different groups in society, each with a different relationship to wind power. The questionnaire is distributed to four different areas:

1. Area where a wind park is newly built
2. Area where a wind park already has existed a few years
3. Area with existing plans for building a wind park
4. Area that is untouched and no existing plans for wind parks

It is also possible to answer this questionnaire (in Finnish or Swedish) on the internet if you follow this link: in Swedish or in Finnish

The questionnaire consist of assertion responses scaled 1-7 and its´ head topics are

Place attachment – how does the personal attachment to the respondant´s home and area affect their opinions? Can people feel a loss of authority over their area if wind turbines are built there?
Environmental effects – concerns about landscape, wildlife and noise from turbines.
Health concerns – do people worry about turbines affecting their health?
Economic effects – for the region and the whole nation
Objective information – is neutral information easy to find?
Sustainability and renewable energy – is it easier to accept a wind park in the area if it contributes to renewable energy goals?

The questionnaires to governments and wind industry will have other head topics. The society questionnaire also contains questions regarding how you perceive yourself. These questions belongs to a method called Ten-Item Personality Inventory-(TIPI).

The results from the society questionnaire will be analyzed in the autumn of 2017 and presented at the centers homepage.

If you want to participate in the questionnaire and also have a chance to win a 100 euro S-market gift card, follow this link:  in Swedish or in Finnish.

Please answer all questions. The questionnaire will take you about ten minutes.

The same questions were sent to two groups;
1. To residents in three areas where wind power was establishing in an early stage
2. To residents in two areas where wind parks were already built.

The survey showed a healthy skepticism towards establishing wind parks in people´s own neighborhood. People were mostly worried if wind turbines would disturb the landscape and also if the sound of them would be disturbing. Another fear was if building them would affect the nature and in particular, if it would affect birds. Despite these fears, most residents were positively set to establishing wind energy.

This short summary only shows some of the statements and answers from the survey. If you want to read more about the survey and also about some facts in these topics, you can find it here: http://www.tuulivoimaopas.fi/files/28/tuulen_voimalla_suomessa.pdf

The survey had different statements, with answers to them from 1-5:

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

The brown staple shows group 1 (before wind park) and
the green shows group 2 (after wind park)

The statement to the left: “Wind turbines are causing damage for animals”.

This question had a much higher rating than other questions on number 3,
(I can´t say), which indicates that the residents lacks information about this topic.

Brown staple  before wind park,  green staple after wind park

The statement to the left: “Blinking air craft warning lights from wind turbines are disturbing”.

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

Brown staple  before wind park,  green staple after wind park

The statement to the left: “Wind turbines do not disturb the landscape”.

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

Brown staple  before wind park,  green staple after wind park

The statement to the left: “I did get enough information about the wind park establishing in beforehand”.

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

Brown staple  before wind park,  green staple after wind park

The statement to the left: “The residents´ well-being have weakened while the wind park is being built”.

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

Brown staple  before wind park,  green staple after wind park

The statement to the left: “Wind turbines are causing a high noise”.

1. Completely disagree
2. Somewhat disagree
3. I can´t say
4. Somewhat agree
5. Completely agree.

In the surveys´ results, not much difference was shown between women´s and men´s opinions. Even if the survey was done at different areas, the opinions in the areas were also surprisingly similar. It is very common when a wind park is planned in a new area, that the resistance towards it is high. The survey showed that even in these areas, a majority of the residents were positive to wind energy. The survey also showed that the society needs more information about wind energy and how building it affects us and our surroundings.