There are high levels of support for renewable projects in Wales such as solar and wind amongst supporters of all the main political parties, shows new research.
The YouGov survey of more than 1,100 people commissioned by communications and public affairs agency Cavendish Cymru, reveals support for climate action is highest among Plaid Cymru and Labour voters, while half of those intending to vote for Reform at next spring’s Senedd election support more renewable energy.
Most Welsh voters back greener energy sources such as onshore wind and solar, both locally and across Wales, while 78% of voters support solar energy. The survey als shows 69% would support onshore wind in their local area.
Plaid Cymru supporters are among the strongest advocates for climate action and renewable energy in Wales. Over 80% support renewable energy, with 92% in favour of solar generation and 79% supporting onshore wind in their local area. Some 66% also support reaching the Welsh Government’s net zero target by 2050, and more than 70% want the Welsh Government to pursue policies to tackle climate change.
Some 84% of Labour supporters would back onshore wind in their local area, compared to 79% for Plaid and 48% for Reform. Just over half of Labour supporters (52%) think it is important the net zero target of 2050 is achieved.
However, just 18% of Reform supporters think it is very important or important that the Welsh Government continues to pursue policies to help tackle climate change, with 39% citing it is not at all important and 21% not important. Moreover of half of those survey that intend to vote for Reform support onshore wind and nearly two-thirds back solar in their local area. Notably, 48% support nuclear developments.
While there is strong support for the energy transition, enthusiasm drops if climate policies are likely to impact household finances.
The research also shows that there are more nuanced views on the energy transmission developments than the public debate on pylons and undergrounding suggests. Over half of the respondents in the poll initially supported the undergrounding of electricity transmission cables. However, this support drops sharply when the costs and environmental impacts of undergrounding are considered.
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In terms of supporting electricity pylons in their local area - needed to transmit green energy generated into the National Grid - the highest approval rating was amongst those intending to vote Plaid Cymru at 34% ( 29% opposed and 24% neutral.) For Labour the approval rating was 31% (opposed 33% and neutral 29%) and for Reform just 19% (52% opposed and 24% neutral
The research also showed that younger people were significantly more supportive of tackling climate change than older people, with 67% of Gen Z (those under 28) believing that tackling climate change is important, compared to 41% of those aged 65 and above.
Views on energy development did not differ substantially, however, depending on whether you lived in an urban or rural area, or across the different regions of Wales.
Cathy Owens, director of Cavendish, said: “This new research provides vital insights for policymakers, industry, and campaigners about what the public really thinks, rather than what the loudest voices in the room are shouting. It highlights really high levels of support among Plaid Cymru and Labour voters for investment in onshore wind and solar, with even half of those intending to vote for Reform backing them as well
" It also reveals that the public is wary of policies that might increase the costs of new energy developments, such as mandating undergrounding cables, particularly if it increases their energy bills or has a damaging effect on the environment.
"We’ve seen the political parties being pulled in all directions by polarisation on the energy debate, but this poll shows most Welsh people want more clean, green energy.
"Protestors who don’t want to tackle climate change at all, and those who would veto new developments across large parts of Wales, have no doubt influenced policymakers, and maybe it’s time to take more notice of where the quantum of opinion sits.
"As in several areas of political debate, the polarisation of the debate online, in the media and on political platforms is some distance away from the moderate majority and those jobs and businesses that rely on new, cheaper energy sources in the future might be put at risk if we can’t agree on a better way of coming together on this vital issue.”