A poll of 101 prospective parliamentary candidates reveals that most Conservatives standing for election do not support expansion of onshore wind.
The survey, carried out by ComRes on behalf of trade body
RenewableUK, found that 55 per cent of
parliamentary candidates back expansion of
onshore wind, but that most of that support was down to Labour and Liberal Democrats.
In fact, more than half (54 per cent) of Conservative candidates disagreed with the statement that "expansion of onshore wind is essential if the UK is to deliver on its
renewable energy targets". Just seven per cent of Conservatives agreed "strongly" with the statement, compared to 44 per cent of Labour candidates and 71 per cent of Liberal Democrats.
Of the 101 prospective parliamentary candidates polled, 76 were Conservative, 18 were Labour and seven were Liberal Democrats.
As well as examining the need for more onshore wind, the poll also gauged support among the candidates for investment in the electricity grid and renewables, the EU 15 per cent target for renewables by 2020 and action on planning.
Once again, Conservative candidates came out as least likely to support the view that onshore wind is necessary to meet renewable energy targets, with 54 per cent disagreeing with the statement.
Meanwhile, only 22 per cent of Conservative candidates strongly agreed with the statement that "investment in new electricity grid infrastructure, renewable generation (including wind farms) and other forms of generating capacity is a top priority over the next 20 years".
Lib Dems 100 per cent behind investment in new electricity grid
Liberal Democrats, on the other hand, were most enthusiastic about investing in a new electricity grid (100 per cent agreeing strongly), while 67 per cent of Labour candidates agreed strongly with the statement.
Liberal Democrats backed the view that Britain should aim to have 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, with 71 per cent agreeing strongly.
Just over half (56 per cent) of Labour candidates agreed with this view.
Over the question of whether "action should be taken ensure large energy infrastructure projects progress quickly through the planning system", more than half of all candidates agreed that it should, but the strongest support came from Labour candidates, with 44 per cent agreeing strongly and 39 per cent agreeing.
RenewableUK, which is backing the renewables campaign Embrace, said the results of the poll showed that the views of political candidates were not in line with public opinion.
Adam Bell, Embrace campaign coordinator at RenewableUK said: "This poll suggests that there is a certain amount of disconnect between the voters and political candidates. Year after year, independent polls suggest that over 80 per cent of the people in this country support further deployment of wind energy. Politicians need to be told that NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) don’t represent how British people actually think."
New onshore wind campaign 'I Am A Wimby' launches
Embrace has launched a new campaign 'I am a WIMBY’ (Wind In My Back Yard) and is asking parliamentary candidates to sign up to the pledge that states that they’d be happy to have a wind farm built near where they live.
"Efforts of Embrace’s supporters today are crucial to our future energy supply – many of the candidates we’re asking to become WIMBYs will form our next parliament," said Bell.
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