Public Support for UK Offshore Wind Reaches All-Time High

Official UK government statistics have shown that the public support for offshore wind is at its highest recorded level since the tracker began in 2012, reaching 83%. 

The previous record of 80% support for offshore wind was set last May, RenewableUK said.

According to the latest wave of the government’s Energy and Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker, support for using renewable energy has reached a record high of 85%, an increase from 79% in the last survey published in February.

The previous record of 82% was set in April 2013 and reached again in November last year.

The latest poll has also shown that the levels of public support for onshore wind and marine energy are also at an all-time high.

75% of people said renewable industries and developments provide economic benefits to the UK. Two in three said they would be happy to have a large-scale renewable energy development in their area.

“Today’s survey shows record levels of public support for onshore wind, offshore wind, wave and tidal energy,” RenewableUK’ Executive Director Emma Pinchbeck said.

”People are happy to have big projects in their own areas – and they strongly feel Government should be building more cheap, reliable, renewable energy here in the UK. It’s great that our industry is winning the global race for clean energy, and to see that the British public is cheering them on.”