85% of the UK supports renewable energy in record-high poll

An official UK Government poll has found levels of public support for renewable energy reach an all-time high.

The survey asked a sample of 2,012 people taken from around the country a series of questions on climate change and energy.

It found that support for renewable energy was at a high of 85 percent, a 3 percent increase on the previous record set last year. 74 percent were also concerned about climate change.

The poll is run by the UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy every three months.

Public support for individual renewable technologies all peaked at record levels as well: onshore wind reached 76 percent, the seventh increase in a row, and offshore wind topped out at 83 percent. Opposition to these technologies was also in single digits.

Solar power, which has never been below 80 percent since the poll began in 2012, reached a new record of 87 percent support.

In addition, the public is becoming more aware of the economic case for these technologies; 75 percent felt renewable projects provided economic benefits to the UK.

The number of people who said they would be happy to have a large-scale renewable project in their local area also jumped to 66 percent, an 8 percent increase since the question was last asked a year ago.

Emma Pinchbeck, Executive Director at wind trade body RenewableUK said the survey showed people “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,” she added.

Hannah Martin, Head of Energy at Greenpeace UK, said the results confirmed that “Britain is ready to enter the 21st century,”

“Figures published last week show that even rural conservatives, blamed by the government for opposing onshore wind expansion, support onshore wind expansion.”