Industry experts have insisted that public opinion remains firmly in favour of the UK Government’s clean energy drive and the continued rollout of offshore wind despite political opposition.
Greenpeace UK Chief Scientist and Policy Director Dr Douglas Carr said there is a “disconnection” between the stance of some opposition parties which have called for net zero policies to be scrapped in a bid to drive down costs and “where the public are at”.
“By and large the public still support action on climate,” he said today (8 May) at the Westminster Energy, Environment & Transport Forum’s next steps for UK offshore wind conference.
“(Anything else) is entirely a confection of the Westminster bubble and columnists.”
Haskoning Technical Director for Offshore Wind Paolo Pizzolla pointed to anti-renewable energy remarks made by representatives of Reform UK including leader Nigel Farage and Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns
He said the position taken by the party, which has made large gains in local council elections held across England this week, is “totally at odds with what a lot of people are saying”.
RWE Head of Offshore Consents UK and Ireland Eleri Wilce added “support is definitely there” among the wider public and that offshore wind is increasingly being seen from an energy security as well climate change mitigation angle.
“Offshore wind is foremost in RWE’s policy and plans and should also be for the UK government as a whole,” she said.
“Net zero is a part of the argument but not the whole argument.”