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  • Overview
  • Sep '26
    Tracker data: Support for local renewables still higher than we think it is
  • Jul '25
    Tracker data: MPs and the public continue to underestimate local backing for wind, solar and pylons
  • Jul '24
    Majority of public feel accepting of local pylons
  • MPs and the public underestimate public support for pylons
  • Nov '23
    Autumn Statement: Discounts on energy bills to be provided to households living near new electricity transmission infrastructure
  • Tracker data: Public support for new local pylons
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View the latest tracker data
    Opinion Insight 20th September 2026

    Tracker data: Support for local renewables still higher than we think it is

    The Climate Barometer Tracker has followed public and MP support for local renewable infrastructure in their area since 2022. Since the beginning, we have pointed to a perception gap between the (high) public support for local renewables projects such as new solar parks and wind farms, and what the public and MPs think support and opposition looks like.

    The latest wave of the tracker shows that this gap remains: public support for new local renewable projects remains high. People, and their representatives continue to underestimate this support, and overestimate opposition.

    In this wave, we also asked those who have personal experience with local infrastructure projects, how they felt about them. Overall, those who have a newly proposed project in their area, and those who have a fully or partially built one, feel accepting, proud, and relieved. A minority report feeling worry, anger, and upsetness, but for the most part, emotional responses are positive.

    Those experiencing the most negative emotions were people living in areas where a renewable energy project had been rejected.

    Climate Barometer Tracker 17th July 2025

    Tracker data: MPs and the public continue to underestimate local backing for wind, solar and pylons

    More than 3 in 5 Brits support local renewable energy infrastructure projects, but neither MPs nor the public realise how strong that support is, new Climate Barometer polling shows.

    There is high in-principle support for a new onshore wind farm (69%), a new solar energy park (73%), and new pylons and power lines for carrying renewable energy (60%), even as those are proposed to be built in people’s local area.

    Whilst support for these renewable energy infrastructure projects has remained largely stable since 2022/2023, perception gaps both from the public when it comes to other people in their area and MPs in terms of their constituents do not seem to have reduced over time. 

    Moreover, across each renewable project polled, MPs are even more likely to overestimate local opposition than the general public, suggesting that community views are not adequately represented in local discussions.

    Climate Barometer Tracker 5th July 2024

    Majority of public feel accepting of local pylons

    Climate Barometer tracker data shows that the public are largely accepting of, or feel no particular emotions at all about new local pylons being constructed in their area.

    As the plans for Great British Energy are laid out, the UK will see a major grid upgrade to carry renewable energy throughout the country. Our data consistently shows more support than opposition for local pylons and power lines, and this new data tells the same story.

    Even so, tacit acceptance of the idea does not mean that the public won’t have legitimate questions about the way in which new infrastructure is carried out. Rather than characterising this as NIMBYism, the concerns of locals need to be taken seriously for a successful transition.

    Climate Barometer Tracker 1st July 2024

    MPs and the public underestimate public support for pylons

    Majorities of the public across political lines show support for building new pylons carrying renewable energy in their local area. Alongside renewables, this is an area of consensus – even those intending to vote Reform UK, whose climate views can differ from the rest of the British public somewhat, show high levels of support compared to opposition (although notably, they also show the highest level of opposition, at 39%).

     

    Despite the relative public consensus, both the public and MPs tend to underestimate public support for new local pylons. Only 7% of Conservative MPs and 17% of Labour MPs thought their constituents would support the measure.

    Policy Insight 22nd November 2023

    Autumn Statement: Discounts on energy bills to be provided to households living near new electricity transmission infrastructure

    In the Chancellor Jeremy Hunnt’s Autumn Statement, it was confirmed that households living near proposed new electricity transmission infrastructure (i.e. the pylons and power lines required to transmit electricity from offshore wind and other renewable sources, to households) would be offered discounts on their electricity bills. The Chancellor said:

    ‘Following consultation earlier this year, we confirm that we are currently minded to provide both an electricity bill discount for properties located closest to transmission network infrastructure and a wider community benefit. The wider community benefit will be co-developed by the project developer and local community to best reflect community preferences. Our response to the consultation has been published alongside this document. We intend to publish guidance on wider community benefits in 2024. This guidance will be voluntary whilst we explore options for a mandatory approach. We will provide further information on the overall community benefits policy, including bill discounts and options for developing a mandatory approach, in 2024.’

    • Source: GOV.UK
    Autumn Statement 2023
    Climate Barometer Tracker 3rd November 2023

    Tracker data: Public support for new local pylons

    The latest Climate Barometer tracker data (October 2023) shows public support for new pylons and power lines being built locally. Although opposition is slightly higher among Conservative voters, there’s still a clear majority in favour, echoing the findings of an in-depth Public First study of voters’ perceptions of green energy developments in 19 Conservative-held rural constituencies.

View the latest tracker data

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