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World governments out of step with public opinion as they back fossil fuels and nuclear

While governments back fossil fuels and nuclear, popular renewables boom, Ecologist  Paul Brown 6th September 2014  Consumers around the world want their electricity to come from renewable sources, writes Paul Brown. Yet governments from the UK to Australia are defying the popular will as they push for fossil fuels and nuclear power. The good news? Renewable energy is surging ahead regardless Public support for renewable energies across the world continues to grow, particularly in more advanced economies – with solar power being especially popular.

At the same time, the policies of the governments in most of these richer countries do not mirror public opinion as many continue to develop fossil fuels, which do not command such popular support.

An example is the UK, where the government wants to exploit gas reserves by the controversial method of fracking – fracturing rock to allow the gas to reach the ground surface. The Conservative government is also promising to cut down on subsidies for onshore wind farms and to build nuclear power stations.

According to the public attitudes report published this month by the British government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change, 36% of the population supports the plan to build new nuclear stations, and only 24% support shale gas extraction by fracking.

Huge popular support for renewable energy

In contrast, 79% of the public is in favour of renewable energies to provide electricity. The UK has plentiful renewable energy and is exploiting several different types.

Solar panels are the most popular form, with 82% of the public supporting their widespread use on the roofs of private houses and, more recently, solar farms in fields in the countryside.

Other high scores for renewables were offshore wind (72% in favour), onshore wind (67%), wave and tidal (73%), and biomass (60%) – even though all need public subsidy to compete with fossil fuels.

Despite the government’s public support for nuclear, there has been no start on a new station because a subsidy offered by the government is being investigated as potentially illegal under European Union competition legislation.

Fracking is still at the exploratory stage and requires years of investment before any power could be produced.

Renewables’ massive growth

Meanwhile, renewables keep on growing……..http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2534207/while_governments_back_fossil_fuels_and_nuclear_popular_renewables_boom.html

September 11, 2014 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | general