First poll of rural Scotland shows two thirds back wind energy
Solar, marine and biomass all enjoy strong support in rural areas Survey marks UK Government’s Green Great Britain Week - designed to highlight the opportunities clean growth offers the UK Almost seven in ten Scots living in rural areas support the use of onshore wind energy, a new poll has found. The independent survey is the first to focus specifically on what people living outside urban areas think of renewable energy developments. Results show 66% of rural Scots support the use of onshore wind energy, with 22% saying they have no opinion or don't know and only 11% opposed to new onshore wind farms. All renewable energy technologies enjoy high levels of support, with rural Scots backing solar power (83% support), wave and tidal energy (83% support), offshore wind energy (78% support) and biomass (69% support). The poll, carried out by Survation, also found that eight in ten Scots living in rural areas (80%) think the next Scottish Government should continue to develop renewable energy sources. In comparison, support for building new fossil fuel (coal, gas or oil) power stations or extending the life of existing ones stands at 42%. Just 31% of rural Scots back fracking. Jenny Hogan, Deputy Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables said: “This latest poll