New polling by Survation, commissioned by RenewableUK, shows that nearly two-thirds of people (64 per cent) support the development of new electricity grid infrastructure to enable the decarbonisation of the UK, while only 5 per cent oppose it.

The Government’s Electricity Networks Commissioner Nick Winser recently published a major report on how to speed up building much-needed new grid infrastructure, including proposals to ensure that communities benefit from this.

Polling suggests that 61 per cent of people said a guaranteed community benefit fund would make them more in favour of an electricity powerline within five miles of their home.

Having a voice to influence what is installed is also important to most people, with 62 per cent saying clear guidance from grid developers about the various ways in which the grid infrastructure could be changed, for example, if the cables could be undergrounded and how the pylons would be designed, would make them more favourable towards it.

RenewableUK’s director of future electricity systems Barnaby Wharton said: “This polling shows that, contrary to some widespread misconceptions, most people are actually in favour of building vital new grid infrastructure to connect up clean energy projects and enable them to deliver cheap power to British homes and businesses, increasing our energy security. It’s interesting for Government to note that Conservative voters support this even more than the general public.”

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