One Third Would Invest in Community Renewables

One third of people would consider personally investing in small-scale community renewable projects such as wind farms, solar farms or small-scale biomass plant according to a new poll by the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.

Of more than 2000 people surveyed, 25% would considering investing in Energy Bonds where the money would be used to build large energy infrastructure projects such as offshore wind.

Other significant finds included that 93% of the public is concerned about higher electricity and gas bills, 64% are worried about possible blackouts and 51% think the government should support the construction of more renewable energy sources like solar, wave and tidal power.

Dr Tim Fox, Head of Energy and Environment at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: ‘Government must stop playing politics with our energy system and the environment and make clear exactly how it is going to ensure that the country’s future needs are affordably met. It is only with this clarity that energy companies will have the confidence to invest in the infrastructure needed to keep the nation warm, lit, moving and working.’

The people polled were asked about what types of technology they would favour to secure future energy supplies. Renewable energy sources like solar, wave and tidal power were the most popular, with 51% of people saying the Government should provide more support for these projects. 43% said there should be more support for offshore wind farms, 31% for onshore wind farms; while as few as 8% supported more gas-fired power stations.

www.imeche.org/news/archives/2013/06/13/energy_poll_blackouts