People across the UK would welcome onshore wind in their community over nuclear, according to a new YouGov poll. The poll, commissioned by UK100, comes just days after the Government published its new Energy Security Strategy.
The strategy saw a pivot towards nuclear power and limited ambition on onshore wind. When asked (between 11th and 12th April) whether they would prefer onshore wind or nuclear power in their community, more than three in five people (61%) said they would welcome onshore wind. Only one in five (23%) preferred nuclear power.
Every demographic and region prefers onshore wind to nuclear by a significant margin.
UK100 is the only network of local leaders across the UK committed to ambitious action on net zero and clean air.
Responding to the findings, Polly Billington, Chief Executive of UK100, said: “The British people know that onshore wind is the quickest, cheapest and cleanest way to boost our energy security and reduce our reliance on Russian gas. It is also an industry that will bring almost 30,000 high-quality jobs to the UK by 2030. The results of this poll aren’t surprising.
“We work closely with local leaders across the UK who are ready to harness local support for onshore wind. But they need clear direction from the Government on unblocking an effective ban on onshore wind that has seen a 97% decline in projects being granted planning permission between 2016 and 2021 compared to 2009 – 2014.
“While not surprising, the results are significant. It has been reported that Kwasi Kwarteng and Boris Johnson had originally planned to support a massive UK onshore wind revival. But after apparent inter-cabinet wrangling, the final Energy Security Strategy rowed back on those ambitions. This polling proves Boris and Kwasi should have stuck to their guns — the public is lukewarm on nuclear power in their community but is ready to welcome onshore wind farms across the country. And local authorities are poised and eager to deliver it.”
Caroline Jackson, Leader of UK100 member Lancaster City Council, added: “We welcome the findings of the UK100 survey. Government needs to react at speed to the immediate need for our own affordable energy generation. People and businesses are suffering while government puts its faith in the slow and unpopular nuclear option.
“The positive findings by UK100 have come as a pleasant surprise. If government signals a change of attitude, we look forward to testing out the potential for onshore wind in Lancaster district alongside other safe, low carbon generation. Our overriding aim must be to reach our target of being carbon net zero by 2030.”
Ian Nellins, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Natural Assets and the Green Economy at UK100 member Shropshire Council, said: “The catastrophic effects of climate change are being felt globally and we have a responsibility to invest in clean, modern and resilient power generation systems, but we must also pay attention to where these sites are installed so as not to cause further damage to our environment.
“This in turn will promote growth and sustainable economies and stability in the pricing markets.”
Lucy Nethsingha, Leader of UK100 member Cambridgeshire County Council, commented: “I am pleased UK100 has done this work. It is important to demonstrate to government that onshore wind has widespread support across many ages and demographics. It is the fastest and cheapest way to increase our access to clean energy, and the current rules need to change.
“Councils should be able to work with their local communities to understand how to use the amazing resources we have in this Country to tackle the climate emergency most effectively.”
Rachel Coxcoon, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Forward Planning at UK100 member Cotswold District Council, said: “As someone who has worked in community-based renewable energy projects for over 15 years, these results tally with what I regularly see in community engagement and research activities; the British public support renewable energy in their communities when they see opportunities for community involvement and community benefit, supported by strong planning frameworks that allow for genuine local control over what happens where.
“What local government needs now from Westminster is the power and funding to help communities make the sort of ambitious Local Plans that will deliver on this. A renewable energy revolution that puts communities at its heart could transform the relationship between people and the energy system, accelerating the UKs transition to a climate-friendly future.
“Here at CDC, we are updating our Local Plan to make it Green to the Core. Our recent consultation asked a range of questions on renewable energy, and we’ll use the responses to craft a positive policy framework for renewable energy. But many local authorities still have plans that are silent on this issue, and no real intention to change this; Government must now provide support and impetus to all local authorities to create the right policy framework for renewable energy in their area.”
Polly Billington concluded: “While the recent strategy left the door open for onshore wind in supportive communities, I hope this polling shows local leaders and the Government that those communities exist across the country. Brits are ready for an onshore wind revival.”
Header image shows an aerial drone panorama of turbines at a large onshore windfarm in Wales, UK. Image ©whitcomberd/AdobeStock
