Public opinion on shale and energy
Aug 5, 2013
Bishop Hill in Energy: costs, Energy: gas, Energy: grid, Energy: nuclear, Energy: other, Energy: shale, Energy: wind

Yougov has published a poll of UK public opinion for the Sunday Times, which this time round includes a number of questions about shale gas exploitation and energy policy in general. These are the questions and main responses. The segmented responses can be seen in the original document here.

I'm not sure that it tells us very much, except that the public are a bit mixed up on these questions.

Shale gas is natural gas trapped under sedimentary rock, which is extracted using a method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking". There are large reserves of shale gas in parts of England. Some people think that using shale gas could be a solution to Britain's energy needs. Other people think that fracking is a dangerous technique that risks contaminating ground water and causing minor earthquakes. From what you have seen or heard about the issue, do you think Britain should or should not start extracting shale gas?

Should 41
Should not 33
Don't know 26

 

If Shale Gas extraction through fracking was started in Britain...How safe, if at all, do you think it would be?

Very safe 8
Fairly safe 33
Not very safe 25
Not safe at all 11
Don't know 23

 

How good for the economy, if at all, do you think it would be?

 

Very good

27
Fairly good 41
Not very good 11
Not at all good 3
Don't know 18

 

How damaging to the environment, if at all, do you think it would be?

Very damaging 20
Fairly damaging 27
Not very damaging 27
Not at all damaging 4
Don't know 22

 

Some people think that Shale Gas fracking would be good for an area as it would provide jobs and investment. Other people think it would be a bad thing for an area as it would damage the local environment and cause pollution. Do you think it would be a good or bad thing if Shale Gas fracking began in your own local town or area?

A good thing 25
A bad thing 43
Neither 14
Don't know 18

 

Do you think the government is right or wrong to invest money to encourage the development of the following forms of energy generation?

Nuclear power
Right 49
Wrong 28
Don't know 23

Wind power
Right 65
Wrong 23
Don't know 13

Solar power
Right 78
Wrong 10
Don't know 12

Tidal power
Right 76
Wrong 7
Don't know 17

Power from shale gas
Right 40
Wrong 33
Don't know 27

"Clean coal" power
Right 57
Wrong 13
Don't know 30
Article originally appeared on (http://www.bishop-hill.net/).
See website for complete article licensing information.