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Renewables

Tracker data: Favourability towards wind and solar among MPs and the public

22 November 2023

Climate Barometer tracker data across three waves (October 2022 – October 2023) shows high levels of MP support for solar and offshore wind energy. MPs have very high levels of support for offshore wind, but typically have less favourable attitudes towards onshore wind than the public (though this gap may be starting to close).

The latest from the Renewables timeline:

Wider Context 25th July 2024

Labour’s plans for Great British Energy brought to parliament

The new Labour government has brought its plans for a publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy, to parliament.

The Great British Energy Bill was formally introduced to the House of Commons on the 25th of July, and the bill is expected to pass through its second stage in early September.

Following a long-standing commitment to base the energy company in Scotland, Labour have since announced GB Energy will be headquartered in Aberdeen. 

Climate Barometer Tracker 17th July 2024

Tracker data: Renewables better for energy security than fossil fuels

Climate Barometer Tracker data shows that renewable energy is seen as better for the country’s energy security than coal, oil and gas.

On reliability, the public are split, with 41% saying renewables are more, or as reliable as fossil fuels, and 40% of the public seeing fossil fuels as ‘more reliable’.

However, renewables are also seen as cheaper, and more popular with the public.

Policy Insight 12th July 2024

New Labour government announces planning reforms to increase onshore wind development

In a widely anticipated move, the new Labour government announced reforms to the planning system which make the development of onshore wind farms easier (the previous Conservative government had a def-facto ‘ban’ in place).

Onshore wind is a very popular form of energy, which people across the political spectrum support. Whilst reforms of the planning system remove an important barrier to the development of onshore wind farms, early (and inclusive) community engagement is also a critical piece of the puzzle.

YouGov carried out polling just after the July 4th General Election, focused on the planning reforms Labour had announced. Whilst building houses on the ‘green belt’ provoked across-the-board opposition, building green infrastructure was widely popular:

Six in ten (60%) Britons favour ending the current ban in England on building new onshore wind farms, with more strongly supporting such an overturn (30%) than opposing it to any degree (23%). Not only can this policy count on the support of at least half of all groups, it is the most popular of Labour’s proposed reforms among Conservative voters, with 54% in favour of scrapping the ban.

 

  • Source: GOV.UK
  • Date: 8th July 2024
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