Poll shows big support for renewables, and ARENA

A strong majority of Australians are in favour of renewable energy and are opposed to plans for the Government to cut $1 billion in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

A Reachtel poll of 10,271 people this week found that 55.9 percent said the Senate should not pass the Government’s bill to cut ARENA funding.

Only 21.2 percent were in favour, less than the 22.9 percent who said they were unsure.

The poll also showed strong support for “an emissions intensity scheme that forces emissions reductions from high-emissions power plants such as coal generators.”

57.2 percent of respondents said they favoured such a scheme, with only 17.9 percent opposed.

The research was commissioned by the Australia Institute think tank. Ben Oquist from the Institute said the poll showed there was “clearly a hunger for action on climate policy.”

Source: Energy Business News