Andorra Poll Shows Near-Half Support for Maià Wind Farm Amid Landscape Worries
49.9% of Andorrans favor the wind farm project despite 60% citing visual impact concerns; solar power leads energy preferences with calls for.
Key Points
- 49.9% support Maià wind farm, 33.2% oppose; 60% see negative landscape impact.
- Solar power preferred by 55%, wind 23.1%; 53.2% favor panels on existing buildings.
- Only 43% changed home habits, 31.4% transport; common: LEDs (47.5%), less heating (38.3%).
- 56.6% households use diesel heating; 51.6% want sustainable switch, 54.3% expect price drop from wind farm.
A recent public opinion survey in Andorra shows nearly half of respondents support building a wind farm in the Maià area, though concerns over its visual impact remain widespread.
The poll, conducted as part of the second-semester Observatori survey, found 49.9% of participants in favour of the project, compared to 33.2% opposed. Both groups acknowledged a significant drawback: 60% agreed the installation would have a considerable negative effect on the local landscape. Joan Micó, who oversaw the survey, noted that opinions might shift once specific project details emerge, suggesting a follow-up poll after further information is released.
Andorrans also expressed broader views on energy priorities and habits. Solar power topped preferences at 55%, followed by wind at 23.1% and hydroelectric at 20%. A majority (53.2%) believed solar development would lower energy prices, though 35% highlighted landscape concerns. Most (53.2%) favoured installing solar panels on existing buildings and infrastructure.
Energy-saving efforts were limited. Just 43% reported changing habits at home to cut consumption, dropping to 31.4% for transport and 26.6% at work. Far more—55.1%, 67.1% and 63.6% respectively—said they had made little or no changes. Common steps included switching to LED bulbs or similar lighting (47.5%) and reducing heating use (38.3%), with 26.5% opting for more bus travel.
Heating systems leaned heavily on diesel, used by 56.6% of households, while 25.2% relied on electric options. Over half (51.6%) wanted to switch to more sustainable alternatives. A majority (54.3%) also expected the Maià wind farm to positively affect energy prices.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: