Public Attitudes of Proposed Wind Farm

Public Attitudes of Proposed Wind FarmWith Irelands excellent pull resources, swipe power has become one of the most rapidly growing sources of renewable energy in Ireland (Comhar, Nov 11). Many mass in Ireland claim to be in favour of tip agriculture, and maintain that principal power is good source of renewable energy, which helps reduce green shack gas emissions. However, numerous people everywherely believe that these wind farms spoil the scenery and may pose a negative effect on the local landscape, as well as having negative effects on tourism in the athletic field concerned. As plans to create a new wind farm in County Clare receive been put in motion, I wish to access the credences of the citizens of western United States Clare on the proposed complex body grammatical constituent of a wind farm on the western slope of Mount Callan.Aims and ObjectivesAs both the people of West Clare, and the wind farm itself, hire to co-exist in the area in question, the opinio ns and attitudes of the local people are paramount in formulating an effective plan, and in executing it to final completion of the propose. As the financial sustainability of the residents of the chosen area rely primarily on agriculture and tourism, opinions given on the impact the building of a wind farm may give way on both of these economic areas are crucial to effectively and smoothly completing the project.The aim of this project is to access the opinions and attitudes of the citizens in West Clare on the proposed saying of a wind farm on the western slope of Mount Callan.The main objectives of this survey are toAccess whether or not the citizens of West Clare ache the use of wind power.Access whether or not the citizens of West Clare support or oppose the construction of a wind farm on Mount Callan.Access whether or not the citizens in West Clare believe that a wind farm would benefit their local prudence.To find out the opinions of the citizens of West Clare, on the ef fects a wind farm would have on the local landscape.MethodologyStatistical summary social function can be utilise to combine quantitative and qualitative data battle array methods. This is used to create a basis for the primary look for. I have used the statistical compendium mapping method to extract data from the census in order to help me identify my area of study. To run appropriate information for my study, I have mapped data relating to location, age, gender and length of time living at the current location (Kitchin Tate, 2000).Kilmihil, Creegh and Liscasey are the tierce closest townlands to the proposed construction site of the wind farm. These three townlands have a combined population of 724 with 65% of people being over the age of twenty. Of the population over the age of twenty, 52% of them are male and 48% are female (CSO). I will relieve oneself a sample of 100 people, 52 male and 48 female from the combined population of the three towns aged over twenty. I w ill use outlineatic random sampling, selecting the fifth element at random, to conduct the questionnaire for quantitative data collection. These questionnaires will be distributed personally in local centres. This method of seek has been used by Michler and Kodeih in their article Mussel and Seaweed Cultivation in Offshore Wind Farms An Opinion horizon (Michler Kodeih, 2008).Q1.To which age category do you belong?20 30 31 40 41 50 51 64 65+Q2GenderMale FemaleQ3. Marital StatusSingle Married widow/WidowerQ4.How many Children do you have?0 1 2 3 5 6+Q5.Do you live in an urban or rural area?Urban RuralQ6.How long have you lived here?Q7.Is your household accommodation Owner occupied with a mortgage? Owner occupied without a mortgage? Being purchased from the Local Authority? Being Rented from the Local Authority? Being rented from a orphic landlord?Q8.What is your occupation?Q9.If your occupation relates to agriculture, Arable farming what kind of agriculture are you engaged in? caudex OtherQ10.Do you think wind farms will doctor agriculture?Yes No If yes, please explain.Q11. Would you support the constructionYes of a wind farm in your area? NoQ12.Do you think a wind farm would affectYes the house prices in your area? NoQ13.Do you think a wind farm wouldYes benefit your local economy? NoQ14.Do you think that wind farm will Yes contribute to Irelands energy independence? NoQ15.What affect do you think a wind farm would have on the local landscape?Q16.What problems do you think a wind farm in your area might cause?Q.17Would you be will to take part in a follow upinterview to further express your views on wind farming? Yes No If Yes, please complete the following Name Address Phone NumberQualitative research methods are necessary when limited research has focused on a concept or phenomenon and it require to be understood (Hunt, 2010). I will focus on interviews with the residents of these three towns to collect quantitative data. I will use an open-end ed interview to conduct this part of the project. This technique uses a type of structured questionnaire, which does not constrict the answers of interviewee to categories provided by the interviewer this better reflects the interviewees own thinking (Kitchin Tate, 2000). I have include a question on the quantitative questionnaire enquiring whether or not participants would be unforced to take part in an interview. I am hoping I will receive twenty five participants that will hit to this. If I do not receive the required amount of participants for interviewing from the questionnaire, I will utilise the physical exertion of cold calling to obtain the remaining participants. I will use a sample coat of twenty five people, thirteen male and twelve female. I will interview six people from Kilmilhil, ten people from Liscasey and nine people from Creegh, to access their opinions on the proposed wind farm. This method of data collection was used by Sustainable energy Ireland in thei r article on Attitudes towards the developments of wind farms in Ireland (ESI, 2003). oppugn scheduleI have read and understood this consent form completely and am willing to take part in this interview.I understand the purpose of this interview.I am aware that I can withdraw from this interview at any time.I understand that all my answers will be considered in the strictest confidence.SignedDateI am interested in the opinions of the citizens of West Clare on the construction of a wind farm on the west slope on Mount Callan. I would resembling to ask you a series of questions related to this topic.Q1. To what extent would you support or oppose the construction of a wind farm in your area?Q2. Are you in favour of the further developments of wind farms in Ireland?Q3. What benefits do you think a wind farm would bring to your area?Q4. What problems do you think a wind farm might cause in your area?Q5.What affects do you think a wind farm would have on the local landscape?Q6. Do you th ink the construction of a wind farm in your area would contribute to Irelands energy independence?Q7. Are you concerned almost climate change?Q8. Would you be willing to pay more for your electricity if it comes from a clean renewable source?The benefits of generating primary data are that it is known precisely how the data was produced, and if any problems arose in the process. This is the system mostly used for data collection however is some cases the generation of primary data is not possible then secondary data may be used. Secondary data may alike be used to help supplement the primary data you have already collected (Kitchin Tate, 2000). As numerous methods of data collection are required to conduct this study, use of secondary document analysis will also be employed. The data in these documents have been collected and analysed by someone else, and ordinarily for a different purpose. However these secondary sources are useful and can aid in strengthen the understanding of a chosen topic.The sources I intend to use are as followsBusch, M., Gee, K., Burkhard, B., Lange, M., Stelljes, N. (2011). Conceptualizing the link amidst marine ecosystem services and human well-being the case of seaward wind farming. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem go Management 73, pp. 109-203.Comhar. (Nov 11). Community Renewable Energy in Ireland Status, barriers and potential options. Dublin Comar Publications.CSO. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 18, 2014, from Central Statistics procedure http//census.cso,oe/sapmap/ESI. (2003). Retrieved 04 2014, 19, from Sustainable Energy Ireland http//www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Wind_Power/Attitudes_towards_the_development_of_wind_farms_in_ireland.pdfHunt, T. (2010). Big wind in small town Ontario. Toronto Department of Geography, Collaborative chopine in environmental Studies, University of Toronto.Kitchin, R., Tate, N. J. (2000). Conducting research into human geography Theory, methodology and pratice. Essex Pearson Education Limited.Michler, C. T., Kodeih, S. (2008). Mussel and seaweed cultivation in offshore wind farms An opinion survey. Coastal management, 36(4), pp. 392-411.Smith, E. R., Klick, H. (2007). Explaining NIMBY Opposition to Wind Power. Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Barbara.DeLacy, P. Barton, (2001) Wind farms a valuation primer, Appraisal journal, 79(1), pp. 28-43.Wilson, Keith (2011), Winds of change, Geographical, 83(5) p. 74.Bibliography kit and caboodle CitedComhar. (Nov 11). Community Renewable Energy in Ireland Status, barriers and potential options. Dublin Comar Publications.CSO. (n.d.). Retrieved 04 18, 2014, from Central Statistics Office http//census.cso,oe/sapmap/ESI. (2003). Retrieved 04 2014, 19, from Sustainable Energy Ireland http//www.seai.ie/Publications/Renewables_Publications_/Wind_Power/Attitudes_towards_the_development_of_wind_farms_in_ireland.pdfHunt, T. (2010). Big wind in small town Ontario. Toronto Department of G eography, Collaborative Program in Environmental Studies University of Toronto, pp. 24-27Kitchin, R., Tate, N. J. (2000). Conducting research into human geography Theory, methodology and pratice. Essex Pearson Education Limited, pp. 28-44Michler, C. T., Kodeih, S. (2008). Mussel and seaweed cultivation in offshore wind farms An opinion survey. COASTAL MANAGEMENT 36 4, pp. 392-411.SEI. (2013). Retrieved 04 19, 2014, from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland http//census.cso.ie/sasapmap