Record high levels of public support for wind and marine energy in latest official poll

According to the latest wave of the Government’s Energy and Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker, support for using renewable energy has reached a record high of 85%, an increase from 79% in the last survey published in February. The previous record of 82% was set April 2013 and reached again in November last year.

Support for offshore wind was also at its highest recorded level since the tracker began in 2012, reaching 83%. The previous record of 80% was set last May. A new all-time high of 76% of people support onshore wind, beating the previous record of 74% set last November. Support for wave and tidal energy also reached a record level, at 81%, surpassing the 79% record set last November.

75% of people said renewable industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK. Two in three said they would be happy to have a large scale renewable energy development in their area.

RenewableUK’ Executive Director Emma Pinchbeck said: “Today’s survey shows record levels of public support for onshore wind, offshore wind, wave and tidal energy. People are happy to have big projects in their own areas – and they strongly feel Government should be building more cheap, reliable, renewable energy here in the UK. It’s great that our industry is winning the global race for clean energy, and to see that the British public is cheering them on”