British Columbians Supportive of Wind Energy as Industry Aims for 2025 Goals
British Columbians want more wind energy, a recent survey finds, while the industry is aiming by 2025 to increase wind power capability in the province dramatically.
A recent survey by Oracle Research and the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) said 76% of British Columbians support expanding wind energy as a source of clean electricity within the Canadian province. The poll, done September 26-27, mentioned 84% of respondents want enough energy created within the province to meet demand while not having to import from other sources. Research also found 55% in the poll want new energy sources with minimal environmental impact.
Robert Hornung, President of CanWEA, said that meeting ever-increasing energy demand, addressing lowering greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and supplying low-cost energy is something residents in the province support.
Just as residents are in overwhelming support on wind energy, CanWEA also came out with a report or plan entitled WindVision 2025. The plan is to increase wind energy capacity from 250 megawatts (MW), which is 1 % of BC’s electricty’s demand now, to 5,250 MW or 17% of the province’s demand by 2025.
Currently, sixth overall in installed wind energy capacity in Canada, the report argues that despite BC’s well-known hydro electricity supply, various factors support much more use of wind energy, including: increasing costs with hydro building dams and higher demand by customers.
The report said wind energy as a source of electricity in the province provides positives, thanks to wind power’s dramatically lower cost, lower environmental impact compared to other sources, and local community benefits.
BC has many advantages when it comes to wind energy, including its high potential for offshore wind capacity. Keep your eye on this region.
Image Credit: Some Rights Reserved By James Wheeler
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