Figures showing growing public support for the use of onshore wind to produce energy have been welcomed by environmental campaigners and the renewables sector.
A Government survey reveals overall support for renewables remains high, with almost eight in 10 (79%) backing the clean technologies and just one in 25 (4%) against. Only 1% strongly opposed renewables.
The figures from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy specifically show 71% of people back onshore wind – the highest level since their tracking began – while 75% are in favour of offshore wind and 82% support solar.
Fabrice Leveque, climate and energy policy officer at WWF Scotland, said: “This survey provides yet more evidence to politicians that the majority of people across the UK support the use of onshore wind.
“Scotland already produces more than 57% of our electricity from renewables, with the right policies in place the Scottish Government can build on that and set a 50% renewables target for all our energy needs, across the electricity, heat and transport sectors, by 2030.
“Independent research has shown that such a target is not only needed but that it is achievable.”
The UK Government survey of 2,080 UK households also saw support for nuclear energy fall to 33% from 36% three months earlier and 38% in the spring.
Public support for fracking has also fallen to new lows, with just 17% of people backing the process of extracting shale gas.
Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “This UK Government survey provides yet more evidence that onshore wind is not only one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation, but also that it is hugely popular with the public.
“Together with solar, onshore wind is the most cost-effective technology we have to reduce the CO2 emitted by our power sector.
“Already more than 57% of Scotland’s electricity comes from renewable sources and we believe that the public’s support for the use of onshore wind should be reflected in future government policy.”
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