page_title: Wind power in Canada
section_title: Public opinion
hierarchical_section_title: Wind power in Canada / Public opinion
caption_attribution_description: English: Three of the 20 wind turbines at the Magrath Wind Power Project in southern Alberta. Photo by Chuck Szmurlo taken June 10 2005 with Nikon D70 and a Nikon 70- 200 f2.8 lens
context_page_description: Wind power has a history in Canada dating back many decades, particularly on prairie farms. As of December 2019, wind power generating capacity was 13,413 megawatts, providing about 6% of Canada's electricity demand. The Canadian Wind Energy Association has outlined a future strategy for wind energy that would reach a capacity of 55 GW by 2025, meeting 20% of the country's energy needs.
context_section_description: In a survey conducted by Angus Reid Strategies in October 2007, 89 per cent of respondents said that using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power was positive for Canada, because these sources were better for the environment. Only 4 per cent considered using renewable sources as negative since they can be unreliable and expensive.
  According to a Saint Consulting survey in April 2007, wind power was the alternative energy source most likely to gain public support for future development in Canada, with only 16% opposed to this type of energy. By contrast, 3 out of 4 Canadians
  opposed nuclear power developments.
  Despite this general support for the concept of wind power in the public at large, local opposition often exists, primarily from residents concerned about visual and light pollution, noise or reduced property values. The construction of wind turbines has a negative effect on rural communities, owing to the fact that landowners who receive payments to allow wind turbines on their land are seen as sellouts who are unconcerned with the wind turbine's effect on their neighbours.  Public opposition has had the desired effect in some cases, aborting or delaying construction of wind turbines.  This opposition has been described as a case of NIMBYism.
  Complicating matters further is wind energy's association with high electricity costs in Ontario. Due to increasing hydro prices some attribute to the Green Energy Act, many Ontarians are turning to alternative sources of energy to meet their needs, such as propane and the burning of wood.
  Several wind farms in Canada have become tourist attractions, to the surprise of the owners.
caption: Magrath Wind Farm in Magrath, Alberta
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