According to the results of a public opinion survey carried out by Norstat Latvija [1], a sizeable share of Latvia's population (29%) supports the development of wind farms, and one in ten of those surveyed expresses firm support for this direction in energy. Support is more pronounced among young people and residents with high incomes.

Support for the development of wind farms varies somewhat between regions. The highest level of support was recorded in Riga and the surrounding area – 39% – as well as in Latgale, at 33%. In Vidzeme, 29% of those surveyed support the development of wind farms, in Kurzeme 25%, and in Zemgale 22%. Overall, 28% of residents would be prepared to support the construction of wind farms in their own municipality.

The study reveals that men and women support the construction of wind farms in equal measure. For example, among those who “support” or “strongly support” such development, 36% are women and 34% are men. At the same time, attitudes towards wind farms differ across age groups. Support is highest among younger residents: it stands at 39% in the 20 to 29 age group and at 34% among respondents aged 30 to 39. In the 40-49 age group, 26% of those surveyed express support. This trend suggests that it is precisely the younger and most economically active residents who are more likely to see wind energy as an opportunity for the country's future growth, something also confirmed by the link between a positive attitude towards the construction of wind farms in Latvia and personal income levels. The survey revealed a clear pattern: the higher the income, the greater the support. Among respondents with incomes of between 1251 and 1500 euros, 36% support the development of wind energy, while in the group with incomes of 1501 euros and above the figure rises to 44%. By comparison, only 21% of those surveyed with incomes of between 1001 and 1250 euros express support.

“So the people most actively involved in the economy, who see a future here and are planning career growth or a business of their own, are more likely to see wind energy in our country as an economic opportunity rather than a threat,” stresses Alnis Bāliņš, Chairman of the Board of the Latvijas Atjaunīgās enerģijas alianse, adding that a substantial share of renewable energy resources in electricity generation can have a positive effect on tariffs. That, in turn, would stimulate the development of energy-intensive sectors of the economy, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres, as well as the IT field as a whole.

Interestingly, attitudes to this question change depending on a person's occupation. For instance, the highest levels of support are expressed by the self-employed (40%), managers (33%), and skilled and unskilled workers (36% in each group). Support is considerably lower among those working in the service sector – 18%.

The survey data show that at a time of high inflation, a rising cost of living and concerns about the future, public demand is growing for energy produced at home. “People are tired of depending on external factors and suppliers. Residents want local energy generation and modern, environmentally friendly solutions to develop. In Sweden, 63% of energy was produced from renewable resources in 2024, with wind energy accounting for around 30% of that segment. We are capable of the same,” stresses A. Bāliņš.