New Poll......

Comment

Comment by Frank J. Heller, MPA on December 30, 2009 at 6:02pm

Most people, IMHO, are buffeted by the winds of the media on this topic. Few have done a siting study, let alone are sailers or have home weather stations that measure wind velocity and vectors on an annual basis.

So a survey would be no more than a reflection on prevailing media opinion; not experience with wind power or expertise.

There are some town council votes, i.e. Brunswick and actions by town managers which indirectly reflect public sentiments.

p.s. I worked p.t. for Pan Atlantic a few years ago making the phone calls on that edition of the OMNIBUS poll. Unless they've changed their sampling methodology, there are large numbers of under sampled people, i.e. under 35's who work and use cell phones as their personal phone---the survey has always used land lines. On the other hand, If I could 'hook' a person into completing the full survey---about 20 min. of phone time; I would get a genuine opinion--once a rapport is established with the respondent, you tend to get some rather honest responses.

PAN ATLANTIC will sell you a question; just call them and ask if there is room in this years survey for a question on wind farming, or depending on your budget, 'set up' questions which lead the respondent to the answer you want; i.e. do you value peace, quiet and country living? then, do you find large wind turbines might noisy or aesthetically unpleasing? Pan Atlantic will reformat your question, and they did have professional survey methodologists on staff doing this.

Comment by Art Brigades on December 24, 2009 at 12:53pm

J and Tracy, there is no doubt that pollsters can and do frame their questions to illicit (oops) a desired response. I'm not sure exactly which poll it was that everyone cites as showing 90% approval, but Pan Atlantic in Portland does the Omnibus Poll and is generally regarded as the genuine article of public opinion: http://www.panatlanticsmsgroup.com/resource/d/14949/Election2009Fin...

Comment by John Gates on December 22, 2009 at 1:11pm

One of the problems with polls, even if conducted by neutral pollsters, is that the average person has not given any thought to wind. If the question were "Are you in favor of wind power?", many might respond affirmatively.

If the question were changed to what is the reality experienced when the rubber actually meets the road, it would have to read along the lines of" "Would you support the installation of 20-25 wind turbines, each the height of a 40 story building topped with 24/7 strobe lights sounding like the roar of a jet in your community?"

Confronted with the true reality in a question as such, it is likely that only a small minority would respond affirmatively. Plain and simple, people place a value on their peace, quiet, health and happiness.

This is why it is vital to get out the education message on every level - noise, health, ecological damage, insignificant electricity production, incredibly large transmission infrastructure required, tax increases, electricity rate increases and the myriad of better choices.