Kirknewton Wind Farm Survey

SUMMARY OF KEY FINDINGS RESPONDENT PROFILE A small minority of respondents to the survey (4%, 15 respondents) live in the immediate vicinity of the proposed wind farm site; throughout this report, their specific views have been noted. The profile of respondents by age group is fairly broad with approximately even proportions of respondents being aged under or over 50.

VIEWS ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND WIND FARMS IN GENERAL The vast majority of respondents (91%) agree that society in general needs to move towards generating renewable forms of energy. 70% of respondents support, in principle, the use of onshore wind power as a renewable energy resource.

VIEWS ON ASPECTS OF FAUCH HILL WIND FARM PROPOSAL West Colzium and Crosswoodburn is seen as an acceptable location for a wind farm by 65% of respondents; 16% think that it is not an acceptable location and 19% are undecided.

A majority of respondents (57%) also indicate that the number of turbines (23) proposed for the site is an acceptable number; 19% think that this is not an acceptable number and 23% are undecided.

The proposed distribution of the Community Benefit Fund is perceived to be reasonable by 66% of respondents; 14% do not perceive the proposed distribution of the Community Benefit Fund to be reasonable and 19% are undecided.

OVERALL VIEWS ON FAUCH HILL WIND FARM PROPOSAL If the opportunity is found to be beneficial to the community, 64% of respondents are in favour of Kirknewton Community Development Trust investing in the wind farm. 13% are not in favour and 22% are undecided.

Almost two thirds of respondents (64%) support the aspect of the proposal relating to a three year Community Benefit Package for those most immediately affected; 11% do not support this proposal and further 25% are undecided.

Overall, 62% of respondents support the developerâ€&#x;s proposal including 19% that strongly support it and 43% that tend to support it. 18% oppose the proposals including 14% that strongly oppose and 4% that tend to oppose the proposals (the balance of 20% of respondents neither support nor oppose the proposals or donâ€&#x;t know).