Poll: Government’s clean energy ‘blitz’ meets with public support

The new government’s recent clean energy announcements have resonated with the public, according to polling conducted by YouGov for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU).

A majority of respondents (64%) were aware of the policy to establish Great British Energy, with similar support (68%) for the announcement. The policy to end the ban on onshore wind also garnered significant support (60%), with half of respondents (50%) aware of the policy.

Public support was also high for the government’s policy to approve new solar farms, with 74% in favor. However, the policy to remove winter fuel allowance payments from pensioners, except for those receiving means-tested benefits, faced opposition, with 59% against and only 28% in support.

The public sees increasing UK energy independence and reducing reliance on foreign energy as key success factors for the government’s clean energy policies. A majority (46%) believe the policies will lead to greater energy independence, while 60% expect the policies to create more jobs in green industries.

The public also views clean energy as a significant growth opportunity for the UK, with 51% identifying it as the biggest growth opportunity in the next five years.

Polling conducted by Opinium for ECIU at the time of the general election showed that 64% of voters saw renewables as opposed to more oil and gas drilling, as the best route to long term energy security.

Commenting on the findings, Alasdair Johnstone of ECIU says:

“The new Ed Miliband has moved quickly on a number of key manifesto commitments, with an announcement blitz that has been noticed and crucially for the new Government appears to be popular. On an election campaign which saw energy security as one of the key dividing lines, the public endorsed a prospectus which focused on more energy independence, delivered through renewable energy, and so less reliant on energy imports.

“But with the gas crisis ongoing, bills still £400 higher than they were before the crisis and set to rise again ahead of winter, restrictions on winter fuel payments are unsurprisingly much less popular. Questions are being asked over what can be done to help those struggling in the short term. If the UK is to insulate itself from gas market volatility in the coming years, the Government will need to get on with ramping up a programme of home energy efficiency and encouraging the uptake of electric heat pumps. There is a public desire to see a government which delivers, and there is risk for this new Government if it fails to do so on one of its key policy pillars.

“Likewise, the public clearly see clean energy as the UK’s best route to economic growth. Is Treasury now going to deliver on the promises, incentivising the private sector investment that will match voters’ vision?”