The opinion poll was conducted by ComRes on behalf of trade association RenewableUK following research published last week finding that politicians opposing wind development are a turn off for voters.
Investing in renewables was the top priority for 48 percent of respondents, far ahead of the next most popular choice – building new nuclear reactors – which came in at 15 percent. Fracking came a distant fourth behind reducing consumption, including for half of people living in the 40 most marginal Labour/Conservative constituencies.
Renewables were top priority among voters of the Conservatives, Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP, both nationally and in marginal seats. The British public also regard securing of energy supplies as one of the most important priorities for the government, with 53 percent citing it as a top priority. Only five percent opted for reducing wind farms.
“This poll shows that the public want to tackle our energy security crisis by investing in renewables like wind, wave and tidal power and offsetting the need to import volatile and dirty fossil fuels from insecure parts of the world” said RenewableUK Chief Executive Maria McCaffery. “Onshore wind, as the cheapest low carbon electricity source is a crucial component of that so it’s no wonder that the electorate will reject Parties that rule out its future use.”
ComRes interviewed 2,065 British adults online between 20th and 22nd June 2014. The data was weighted to be representative of all UK adults aged 18 and over. ComRes also interviewed a representative sample of 1,008 GB adults living in the 40 most marginal constituencies where the Conservatives and Labour shared first and second place between them at the last General Election in 2010.
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