Wind power in New Zealand has an abundance of fans

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority commissioned the survey of 750 people as it moves to increase public education on wind energy amid recent debate. The authority has released information packages to local and regional councils to help the public make informed choices regarding windfarms. Chief executive Heather Staley said many industry observers believed wind had the potential to generate 2500 megawatts of power - enough for about a million homes. It had a vital role to play in electricity generation, she said.

The survey, recently posted on the authority's website, says support for wind as a form of energy was closely followed by hydro. Coal and gas-fired plants were much less favoured. Many said wind turbines were environmentally friendly and relatively low-cost, but others were not so happy. The unreliability of wind was the main reason for opposition to it as an energy source, followed by the unsightly appearance of the turbines, and, to a lesser extent, noise. Only 0.7 per cent of those surveyed had concerns about the effect of windfarms on birds and wildlife. Authority spokesman Bill Boyd said opposition to windfarms depended on the location. Meridian Energy's Te Apiti windfarm near Palmerston North had some opposition, but successfully went through the consent process with much public support.

The company recently announced plans to build a 70-megawatt windfarm near Mossburn that could produce enough electricity to power all 30,000 homes in Southland. The proposal involves building 30 to 42 turbines in northern Southland.