A staggering 83% want the UK government to shift the economy from fossil fuels to clean, carbon-safe renewable energy, according to the latest poll.
Just 10% of voters agree with the Conservative Party’s current approach that it is harder for new renewable energy projects to get planning permission than coal, oil and gas infrastructure.
The survey was carried out by the YouGov for the Warm this Winter coalition at the conclusion of the government’s own onshore wind consultation.it shows 81% of Conservative Party voters Will support renewable energy projects in their own communities: Conservative MPs in marginal seats would do well to note how unpopular their government’s stance on energy is at the moment.
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Climate charity Possible, which joined Uplift UK, Greenpeace, WWF and Friends of the Earth in responding to the consultation, expressed growing concern that the government’s proposed policy changes would not lift the effective ban on onshore wind development.
Alethea Warrington, campaigner for climate charity Possible, said: “UK households and communities will continue to face unsustainable energy costs and the impact of the escalating climate crisis, while the government wastes time tweaking language that effectively bans onshore wind power.
“It’s time to end the ridiculous planning system that makes it easier to open new coal mines in England than to get new onshore wind. The government should continue working to make the UK’s energy system clean, cheap and safe, with unhindered wind .”
Tessa Khan, director of Uplift UK, said: “It is appalling that this government is still delaying the development of one of the cheapest forms of energy we have, onshore wind, when the energy price crisis is the cause of many problems. The roots we are going through.
“Millions of households are fuel starved and bills are set to rise again within a month, but there is no plan to fix Britain’s broken energy system.
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“The only way we’re going to permanently lower our energy bills is by reducing gas by accelerating renewables, which we’re lucky to have in abundance, and by upgrading homes with better insulation and heat pumps.
She added: “Other countries are doing this and lowering bills, why can’t we? This government needs to keep going.”
Charities have expressed concern and disappointment at the government’s refusal to remove planning barriers to fresh wind, opting instead to make minor changes to wording that would not allow for an expansion of the clean energy crisis needed to tackle the energy cost crisis and the climate.
