Clean Energy Legislation 23 April 2012
85% back clean energy legislation
Prime Minister David Cameron has been urged to boost UK clean energy and reduce reliance on imported gas after a poll found a large majority of people backed a drive for more renewables.
The YouGov survey of more than 2,800 people revealed that 85% supported calls for the Government to introduce legislation to make energy companies cut their use of foreign fossil fuels and increase wind, wave, solar, hydro and tidal sources of electricity.
Ahead of an international clean energy conference in London, at which the Prime Minister is expected to make his first major environmental speech since coming to power, Friends of the Earth urged Mr Cameron to back clean British energy.
The poll, conducted for the environmental group, found just 4% were strongly opposed to a move towards renewables, while a third (33%) were strongly in favour.
Those quizzed were asked to rank which energy sources they wanted to see more of as coal and nuclear power stations are closed in the next decade, with wave and tidal power getting the most backing – from more than a quarter of people (26%) – as the number one choice.
Nuclear came second as the most favoured option, backed by 22%, followed by 21% for solar and 17% for wind.
The majority of people were also in favour of the energy sources that produce UK electricity coming from the UK or the North Sea, rather than further afield.
Friends of the Earth’s “clean British energy” campaign – launched to urge the Government to stop the big six energy companies locking the UK into dependence on imported fossil fuels and to drive forward renewables – is backed by TV “dragon” Deborah Meaden.
The Dragons’ Den star said: “Gas, coal and nuclear are the technologies of the past. Our country has the skills and the talent to be world–beaters in the renewable energy technologies of right now.”
Friends of the Earth’s director of policy and campaigns Craig Bennett said: “The public has given a clear vote of confidence to clean British energy from our wind, sun and sea – it makes no sense for the Government to pursue an unwanted, costly dash for gas that’s causing our fuel bills to rocket.”
