1. ASU Energy Center

2. Public Attitudes Toward Wind Energy in Western North Carolina A Presentation to the 2002 NC Wind Summit December 9, 2002 Appalachian State University Boone NC Dennis O. Grady

3. Purpose of Survey Assess the attitudes of citizens in western North Carolina on energy issues Determine attitudes of citizens on developing wind energy in the Appalachian Mountains Identify barriers people perceive in developing wind energy in the NC mountains

4. Sampling Procedures Population: All residential telephone numbers in 24 western North Carolina Counties with potential class 3-5 wind – approximately 1 million Data Source: InfoUSA Telephone database Sample : Drawn proportionately across all 24 counties – approximately 2,300 residential telephone numbers drawn Respondents: 400 completed telephone surveys, Mid-September-October, 2002 95% confidence level, +/- 4% margin of error

5. Profile of Respondents Average Age = 51 Average NC Residency = 30 years 53% Female 85% Registered NC Voters 62% with Less Than College Degree 82% Home Owners 49% with Family Incomes Less Than $40,000 94% Year Round Residents 14% Had Heard of Recent TVA Effort 29% Had Seen a Utility Scale Turbine Operate

6. Interest in Energy Issues Level of Interest NoneSomeGreat Fossil Fuel Pollution18.5%48.0%33.5% Cost of electricity 3.823.872.5 Reliability of electricity 7.623.569.0 Importation of foreign oil12.832.554.8 Nuclear Safety/fuel disposal11.324.364.5

7. Attitudes Toward Fuels Should we be getting more, the same, or less of our future electricity from: –Coal –Nuclear –Natural gas –Hydroelectric –Solar –Wind

8. Comparison of Fuel Sources Percentage wanting more electricity from –Solar85.3% –Wind75.4 –Hydroelectric72.8 –Natural Gas50.5 –Nuclear32.5 –Coal22.4

9. Desirability of Coal

10. Desirability of Nuclear Power

11. Desirability of Hydro

12. Desirability of Natural Gas

13. Desirability of Solar

14. Desirability of Wind

15. Turbine Placement Issues Ridge tops National forests Near one’s home Clustered With preexisting towers On personal property for personal use

16. Turbines on Ridge Tops 63.5% Approval

17. Turbines on National Forests 50.5% Approval

18. Turbines Near Your Home 66% Approval

19. Clustered Turbines on Ridges 57.4% Approval

20. Turbines on Cluttered Ridges 74.5% Approval

21. Turbines for Personal Use 79% Approval

22. Awareness and Turbine Placement

23. Experience and Turbine Placement

24. Income and Turbine Placement

25. Ridge Top Placement by Education

26. Gender and Turbine Placement

27. Problems With Turbines

28. Summary Western North Carolinians are supportive of developing a renewable energy industry in the Appalachian Mountains By a margin of 2 to 1, western North Carolinians do not think that ridge top placement of turbines should be prohibited. By a margin of 3 to 1, western North Carolinians believe that placing a turbine with other existing towers should be allowed. Attitudes toward turbine placement is unaffected by income, education, previous experience with utility scale turbines, or knowledge of energy issues. The greatest barrier to developing a wind industry in the mountains is aesthetic – especially how it could affect tourism and property values near the turbines.

29. Further Information A report on the survey results may be obtained by contacting Dr. Dennis Grady, Department of Political Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, or Gradydo@appstate.edu, orGradydo@appstate.edu www.wind.appstate.edu where the report is posted.www.wind.appstate.edu