Public support for onshore wind soars

Public support for onshore wind has reached record levels, according to a new survey published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

In the latest wave of DECC’s Public Attitudes Tracker, 70 per cent of people said they support the development of onshore wind – the highest ever figure since DECC’s regular opinion polls began in March 2012. A record-breaking number also support offshore wind, at a new high of 77 per cent. Wave and tidal energy also remains popular at 77 per cent, matching its previous highest levels of support. In contrast, public support for shale gas stands at only 29 per cent.

In addition, people strongly recognise the benefits of renewable energy and believe that the UK should accelerate investment in low-carbon technologies. 70 per cent think renewables bring economic benefits to the UK, compared to 47 per cent for nuclear. 80 per cent are concerned about the UK becoming dependent on energy imports and 75 per cent of people think we are not investing fast enough in alternative energy sources.

In the survey, people ranked energy security and climate change jointly as the fourth biggest challenge facing the UK today – only unemployment, inflation and the NHS scored higher in the list. Tellingly, those polled judged energy and climate change to be more important challenges than education, law and order, taxation, defence and national security. 

Earlier this month, the Conservative energy minister, Michael Fallon, announced that his party would cease to support any further onshore wind projects.

RenewableUK’s chief executive Maria McCaffery commented: “This poll should serve as a clear wake-up call for the Conservatives. When they announced a moratorium on all future onshore wind projects last week, they seriously miscalculated the public’s mood, and they’ll pay heavily for that at the ballot box.”