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Renewable sources of energy generate around 45% of the UK’s electricity mix. They are highly popular among the public, including when they are built locally.
With planning rules on onshore wind now finally being relaxed after a long period of tight restrictions (a single objection could prevent planning approval), the ‘Great Grid Upgrade’ is now getting underway. This means a large number of new pylons and power lines are required – a debate which is likely to take centre stage.
The challenge for scaling up renewable energy generation is not primarily public opposition or controversy, but loud (minority) local opposition, and the influence this maintains over political decision making.
MPs’ opinions – especially among Conservatives on onshore wind – continue to be out of step with what the public actually thinks.
But is this gap closing or widening as the roll out of green energy infrastructure accelerates?
The Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) have published a survey showing MPs overestimate public opposition to onshore wind power. They report:
Just 8% of Members of Parliament know that onshore wind farms are now the cheapest way to add electricity generating capacity in the UK. For comparison, 12% believe that large nuclear power stations, like Hinkley Point C, provide the cheapest new capacity.
The poll also shows that MPs consistently overestimate opposition to onshore wind. The most recent Government survey shows that just 2% of the population strongly opposes the technology – but only 9% of MPs think that the figure is less than 5%. Over half of MPs (52%) believe the level of strong opposition to be above 20%.