Pacific Hydro - Market Research

Market Research

Wind energy is the overwhelming power of choice for Victorians with more than 95 per cent of people supporting the building of more wind farms, according to a survey commissioned by Pacific Hydro.

Wind market research

The state-wide poll, conducted by Auspoll in February 2002, also found that protecting the environment was now as important to Victorians as reducing crime levels, creating employment and providing quality health and education services.

In what is a clear message to policy makers grappling with the challenge of keeping pace with Victoria’s surging electricity demand, more than 86 per cent of respondents stated their preference for wind power over new gas or coal fired power stations.

Other key findings include:

87 per cent of respondents indicated that the potential for creating 2,000 direct and indirect jobs as a result of Pacific Hydro’s proposed Portland Wind Project would make them more likely to support the project
70 per cent thought that wind farms are an interesting landmark that will help create tourism
36 per cent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to visit the coast if there were wind farms in the area, 55 per cent indicated that it would make no difference while only 8 per cent said they would be less likely to visit the area

Auspoll survey results:

February 2002
June 2001

Renewable energy enjoys wide popular support

A poll undertaken by Greenpeace in June 2003 and a Roy Morgan Research project in February 2006, found that Australians want more clean energy, and are prepared to pay for it. The polls found that more than 85 per cent of consumers are prepared to pay an extra $3.50 per month for the additional clean energy that would be produced if the Federal Government raised its current commitments to the MRET from a 2 per cent increase in the proportion of electricity produced from renewable sources by 2010 to 10 per cent.