Government’s clean energy blitz met with public support, new poll finds

• 68% of the British public support Great British Energy
• 51% of people believe renewable energy presents the best opportunity for growth
• 75% of the public support new solar farms in favour of clean energy

Energy bills are still £400 higher than they were before the cost-of-living crisis

The government’s flagship sustainability policies are proving popular with the public, with a majority saying they support efforts to use clean energy, according to a poll conducted by YouGov for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). 

The poll found that 68% are supportive of Great British Energy, a new initiative from the Labour government and half of the population (50%) also knew about the Government’s policy of ending the de facto ban on onshore wind farms, with 60% in support of the decision. 

Alasdair Johnstone, head of parliamentary engagement, ECIU said: “Ed Miliband has moved quickly on a number of key manifesto commitments, with an announcement blitz that has been noticed and crucial for the new Government appears to be popular. 

“In an election campaign, which saw energy security as one of the key dividing lines, the public endorsed a prospectus, which focused on more energy independence, delivered through renewable energy, and so less reliant on energy imports.”

There was a surge in support of the Government’s policy to approve new solar farms with 75% of the public in favour of more clean energy, but only 49% of people were actually aware of said policy. 

At a mere 28%, support is lowest for removing the ‘winter fuel allowance’ payments to pensioners, apart from those who receive means-tested benefits. Fifty-nine per cent of people who took the survey opposed the idea, especially as energy prices continue to rise.

Johnstone continued: “… With the gas crisis ongoing, bills still £400 higher than they were before the crisis and set to rise again ahead of winter, restrictions on winter fuel payments are unsurprisingly much less popular. Questions are being asked over what can be done to help those struggling in the short term. 

“If the UK is to insulate itself from gas market volatility in the coming years, the Government will need to get on with ramping up a programme of home energy efficiency and encouraging the uptake of electric heat pumps. There is a public desire to see a government which delivers, and there is risk for this new Government if it fails to do so on one of its key policy pillars.”

Labour’s policies have also been called into question, with the poll asking what people would deem a successful policy in regards to boosting clean energy. The answer was that 44% would consider increasing the UK’s energy independence from volatile fuel markets and foreign energy a success, followed by lowering energy bills at 42%. 

Despite knowing what they’d consider a successful policy, less than half of survey takers (46%) believe that it will happen, compared to 36% who expect it won’t. A huge percentage (61%) of people don’t expect these policies to lower bills but 60% expect that more jobs in green industries will be created.   

During the general election, polling conducted by Opinium for ECIU revealed that 64% of voters saw renewables as the best route to long term energy security in the UK, rather than oil and gas drilling. 

Further analysis from ECIU previously showed that a single offshore wind farm has the potential to generate more power than gas coming from drilling in the North Sea. 

Labour focused heavily on economic growth during the election period, with public opinion putting renewable energy and clean technology at the forefront of opportunities for growth with 51% of people choosing it, followed by AI at 42%, construction at 26% and a measly 8% for oil and gas.

Johnstone concluded: “The public clearly see clean energy as the UK’s best route to economic growth. Is the Treasury now going to deliver on the promises, incentivising the private sector investment that will match voters’ vision?”