It’s been another rollercoaster week for renewables in the media.  It began on a low with Monday’s FIT deadline and continued coverage of striking images depicting damaged wind turbines. But things were looking up yesterday with the release of a YouGov survey revealing that the British public strongly support renewable energy. And today an independent report from the Committee on Climate Change concluded that the household energy bill increases have been caused primarily by rising cost of gas, not environmental policies.

In a YouGov poll of 1696 adults in the UK, reported by Business Green and The Guardian, 56% want to see more wind farms and 74% are happy with increasing the use of solar power.  This can be contrasted to just 10% in favour of more oil power stations and 16% more coal.  People really do understand that we need to be looking to clean, green sources to power our future.  67% of people agree that solar power is a realistic way of combating climate change.

What is even more telling is that 60% are in favour of wind-farm subsidies.   In complete, quiet contrast to the screaming headlines to the contrary.  More research would be needed to confirm this, but you could argue that these figures demonstrate public  understanding that as with any new technology, new wind installations need initial financial support to become commercially viable long-term.  

The independent report published by the Committee on Climate Change today, found that bills for gas and electricity rose by £455 between 2004 and 2010, and 84% of this rise was due to the soaring cost of gas on international markets. Green measures have added £75, or 16%. Commenting on the analysis Juliet Davenport, our CEO and founder, said:

“It’s good to see the Committee putting the record straight and these figures clearly show how our continued dependence on fossil fuels is costing us dear. They also put to bed many of the myths about the cost of investing in a new generation of infrastructure that harnesses the renewable energy resources we have in the UK.

“That investment will benefit us in the long run, providing security of supply, helping deliver more stable energy prices and slashing our carbon emissions. That’s good for households, good for businesses and good for the economy.”

The Committee’s report hits back at recent claims in a number of media outlets that green measures are to blame for energy bill increases.  Lord Adair Turner, Chair of the Committee, said:

“We were keen to provide a dispassionate analysis of household bill impacts in what has become a politically controversial area.”

Clearly this report, and the outcome of the YouGov survey, will not stop those with vested interest declaiming the cost of renewable and energy efficiency policies, in the hope of turning public opinion.  But hopefully analysis and research like this will convince the sensible members of the public, that to stop spiralling energy bills we need to support a switch away from fossil fuels for our long term good.

There is and needs to continue to be robust debate on how we meet our future energy needs.  At Good Energy we haven’t raised our electricity prices for over three years – investing in renewable energy is an effective way of mitigating energy price rises caused by external factors we have no control over. We have a vision of a completely renewable energy production by 2050 and all our commercial energy goes into achieving this vision.  There are loud and proactive voices who oppose this position.  But in the middle of the shouting, let’s not forget the silent majority who work hard, vote, pay their taxes, and occasionally get a chance to say what they think about energy.