Welsh speaking rural west of Wales most supportive of renewable energy in the UK, poll suggests
A poll has suggested that the Welsh-speaking rural west of Wales is the area that is most supportive of renewable energy in the UK.
An MRP poll by Survation found that of the five UK constituencies that most wanted to see the next leader of the Conservative Party invest in renewable energy, three were in the Welsh-speaking north and mid-west of Wales – Arfon, Dwynfor-Meirionnydd and Ceredigion.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr and Ynys Mon also came in 15th and 21st out of all 650 constituencies.
In Dwyfor Meirionnydd, 88% supported more renewables, while 87% did so in Arfon and Ceredigion. In Carmarthen East and Dinefwr the number was 83% and on Ynys Mon 82%.
Support was lower in the Conservative constituencies of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire (77%) and Preseli Pembrokeshire (76%).
The Vale of Clwyd was the constituency in Wales least supportive of more renewable energy in Wales, coming in at 570th in the UK, followed by Cynon Valley.
Across the UK voters in Brighton Pavillion, which has a Green MP, were most supportive of renewable energy of all at 93%, while voters in Hartlepool were least supportive.
But even in Hartlepool, a majority of 55% wanted more investment in renewables.
‘Public support’
Overall, the polling – commissioned by RenewableUK – showed that there is overwhelming public support for building new wind and solar farms to tackle the cost of energy crisis, and that the Conservatives risk losing voters if they fail to support renewables.
Critically for the incoming Government, 68% of the public polled want the new Conservative party leader to increase or maintain investment in renewables, compared to just 14% who want to see investment reduced.
40% of people said they would be less favourable to the Conservative party if the new leader weakens climate change policies, compared to only 16% who would be more favourable.
RenewableUK’s Chief Executive Dan McGrail said: “These findings are wake-up call to every politician, including the new Prime Minister, that the overwhelming majority of people want to see new investment in renewables and are happy to see new wind and solar farms built in their local area to drive energy bills down.
“At a time when we need to shift from expensive gas to low-cost renewables as rapidly as possible, most people agree that if local communities support having a wind farm nearby, the Government shouldn’t stand in their way”.
“We’re keen to work with the new Prime Minister to slash energy bills by building more renewable energy projects faster, which means bringing in a planning system which reflects the widespread public support for these technologies, and setting ambitious targets for clean energy in each of their annual power auctions over the course of this decade.
“That will also help us to maximise jobs and attract billions in private investment”.
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Tory politicians waking up this morning to the news that by and large, the voters like it when the planet is suitable for human life.
Sadly, one of the first things Tory politicians do is trade their humanity to become a Tory politician.
Not sure about this at all. It’s a very superficial line of questioning which could be used as implied consent for any old “investment”. Perhaps they should have asked – how do you fancy whacking great big wind turbines looming over the valley occupied by your community ?”. Even those of us favourably inclined in principle would tell the questioner to go plant them elsewhere as we’re up to our necks in them already. Where are all those community owned projects in other alternative and proven technologies that were supposed to attract government support and would yield returns directly to… Read more »
If you are in mid Wales, do something useful and consider signing this https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245150 or at least read https://nation.cymru/news/calls-for-cambrian-mountains-to-be-designated-as-aonb/ and decide for yourself.
Done. 3,258 so far. Diolch!
The Conservatives don’t care about the planet let alone Wales. Forget renewables If it was beneficial to the Tory little England imperialist ego they’d turn Wales into an open cast mine with a tap on it.
And what would we expect a survey by Renewable UK to conclude?? I was blissfully unaware of the culture and business model of this industry – and the role of WG until 15 months ago. Via Future Wales Plan 2040, WG is enabling external developers to place industrial 250m high turbines within 700m of homes across Wales – just so they don’t have to have them in England (where they would not be permitted); scarring landscapes and communities with money and energy flowing 1way from Wales. We’ve always been generous like that – coal, slate, water and now energy
My vision: small, solar panelled homes. Farms with additional small wind turbines.
Theirs: monstrous wind farms all over our land and coastal waters.
It is entirely possible for wind farms to be locally owned for the benefit of the local populations they exist near and examples of these are beginning to appear all over our country. Its a far more difficult prospect to own and build a fossil fuel / nuclear plant without commercial, often foreign investment. Let alone secure the fuels to burn in them…. I wonder if the anti wind turbine brigade would also want to see the removal of other eyesores from their communities? I can think of nothing more intrusive on our peace and tranquility than roads ….. fancy… Read more »
250 metre high within 700 metres of your home – are you sure? The largest onshore at the moment are 156m?
and it’s not like sticking candles in a birthday cake, there is infra-strucure, pylons, compounds and oh yes those roads you’re not keen on
The problem is urban areas, of which Wales has plenty. The energy consumption per sq mile of a town is far higher than the renewable generation potential per sq mile. This means urban areas have to be powered by wind farms either in the countryside or at sea. So rural areas have to tolerate far more turbines than they need, just to satisfy the towns … or we put them at sea, where the vast majority want them. The latest CfD figures show offshore wind is generated cheaper than onshore, primarily because the wind is stronger and more constant at… Read more »