Tuesday 10 July 2012

Energy security ‘less worrying than unemployment’

A tiny fraction of Brits think energy security is a big issue in the UK compared with unemployment. That’s according to a new government-commissioned poll which found 43% of people believe unemployment is the top concern compared with a mere 3% who chose energy supply. Climate change was seen as even less of a worry (2%).

The poll also revealed healthy ambiguity towards nuclear power with three in ten (29%) feeling the benefits outweighed the risks, while a similar number felt the opposite (30%).

However renewable energy firms should take heart from the figures released yesterday, as the survey found eight in ten (79%) people in the UK back renewable energy. A third of people (32%) were strongly in favour of renewables for providing our electricity, fuel and heat, in a poll of more than 2,000 people in face-to-face in-home interviews conducted by TNS UK.

Solar power was the most popular renewable energy (83%), closely followed by off shore wind (76%) and wave and tidal (75%). Onshore wind had the highest level of opposition - with 12% opposed to it.

The results suggest DECC still has a way to go to persuade the public to actively welcome wind farms in their local area as just over half (55%) agreed they would be happy to have a large scale renewable energy development in their area.

DECC says its new quarterly ‘tracking survey’ will help it understand and monitor public attitudes to the department’s main business priorities.