Over the years the renewable energy industry has been forced to weather many a violent storm, including those created by haphazard policy, energy market regulations focused on the needs of incumbent generators and constant attacks on the credibility of renewable technologies in the media.
Over the last few months, attacks from some sections of the media have increased in both volume and venom. These attacks range from being poorly informed, to outright misinformation, and all are orchestrated in a way that leads you to believe that a series of well-funded, politically-motivated campaigns are underway.
Happily, it is plainly evident that Australians haven’t been conned by this onslaught of negative press and that they have a far better understanding of climate change and renewable energy than some commentators would have us believe.
The most recent evidence of this is a watershed report released this week by the 100% Renewable Energy campaign. The 14,000 conversations report confirms that over 90 per cent of Australians want more renewable energy and that 75 per cent want to see a price on carbon so that business is made responsible for their greenhouse pollution.
The 100% Renewable Energy team should be congratulated for their enormous effort in speaking to 14,000 households over the last few months, the results of which clearly demonstrates that Australians want a clean energy future.
Now, some will say that because this study was compiled using face to face interviews that the positive results overstate what people may think as they don’t want to appear rude or get into a confrontation with the person asking the question.
An alternative view could be that, through having a conversation, respondents were able to gain a better understanding of the issues and were allowed more time to think about their response so that it went beyond a superficial level.
Even if you do believe the results were skewed to some point, the fact is that the findings in this report are similar to state and national polling conducted over a long period of time.
For example, in June 2010 Pacific Hydro commissioned research into attitudes towards our future energy supply. The research focused on a number of Victorian regions where wind farms were either operating or were proposed. This research revealed that people living in these areas overwhelmingly supported wind energy over gas and coal.
It found that 70 per cent of those polled preferred wind energy, while 24 per cent preferred gas, and just 6 per cent coal, if given a choice. Overall, 81 per cent of those polled were supportive of wind energy being built in their region, a result made even more remarkable given a highly visible and quite vicious anti-wind campaign was being conducted at the time.
Similar results came from a Climate Institute poll, conducted nationally by Auspoll in June 2010, that showed 86 per cent of respondents wanted to see more renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal power.
Whenever Pacific Hydro or the renewable energy industry has conducted similar surveys in the past, the first by our company almost a decade ago, the results have always been overwhelmingly positive.
More recently, in April 2011, the Clean Energy Council engaged Newspoll to conduct a nation-wide poll which found that over 80 per cent of respondents wanted to see more renewable energy.
So, the numbers have consistently demonstrated overwhelming support for renewable energy over a long period of time. It’s a pity that some sections of the media continue to ignore this in favour of sensationalist headlines and misinformed commentary.
Through initiatives like the 14,000 conversations report and the “Say Yes” campaign which is seeing tens of thousands of people rally for a price on carbon, we are starting to hear the voice of everyday Australians. And yes, we do include people like Cate Blanchett and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, or any other prominent Australian who wishes to have their voice heard in that category.
However, now is not the time for this fledgling industry to rest on its laurels. The renewable energy industry must be vigilant and active in responding to issues, as the negative reports and misinformation will not subside, with some sections of the press, egged on by various activists and climate change deniers, will seek to demonise renewable energy technologies like wind and solar.
We simply can’t take continued public support for granted. The entire industry must work hard to maintain the community's trust and to ensure they remain well informed by verifiable facts lest they begin to believe the fiction peddled by those opposed.
We know there will always be people who are threatened by new technology and there will be those who oppose action on climate change. However, it is undeniable that most Australians want to embrace this clean energy future now.
As the 100% Renewable Energy team have said: “Just Get on With It”.
Lane Crockett is general manager, Australia, at Pacific Hydro
Over the years the renewable energy industry has been forced to weather many a violent storm, including those created by haphazard policy, energy market regulations focused on the needs of incumbent generators and constant attacks on the credibility of renewable technologies in the media.
Over the last few months, attacks from some sections of the media have increased in both volume and venom. These attacks range from being poorly informed, to outright misinformation, and all are orchestrated in a way that leads you to believe that a series of well-funded, politically-motivated campaigns are underway.
Happily, it is plainly evident that Australians haven’t been conned by this onslaught of negative press and that they have a far better understanding of climate change and renewable energy than some commentators would have us believe.
The most recent evidence of this is a watershed report released this week by the 100% Renewable Energy campaign. The 14,000 conversations report confirms that over 90 per cent of Australians want more renewable energy and that 75 per cent want to see a price on carbon so that business is made responsible for their greenhouse pollution.
The 100% Renewable Energy team should be congratulated for their enormous effort in speaking to 14,000 households over the last few months, the results of which clearly demonstrates that Australians want a clean energy future.
Now, some will say that because this study was compiled using face to face interviews that the positive results overstate what people may think as they don’t want to appear rude or get into a confrontation with the person asking the question.
An alternative view could be that, through having a conversation, respondents were able to gain a better understanding of the issues and were allowed more time to think about their response so that it went beyond a superficial level.
Even if you do believe the results were skewed to some point, the fact is that the findings in this report are similar to state and national polling conducted over a long period of time.
For example, in June 2010 Pacific Hydro commissioned research into attitudes towards our future energy supply. The research focused on a number of Victorian regions where wind farms were either operating or were proposed. This research revealed that people living in these areas overwhelmingly supported wind energy over gas and coal.
It found that 70 per cent of those polled preferred wind energy, while 24 per cent preferred gas, and just 6 per cent coal, if given a choice. Overall, 81 per cent of those polled were supportive of wind energy being built in their region, a result made even more remarkable given a highly visible and quite vicious anti-wind campaign was being conducted at the time.
Similar results came from a Climate Institute poll, conducted nationally by Auspoll in June 2010, that showed 86 per cent of respondents wanted to see more renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal power.
Whenever Pacific Hydro or the renewable energy industry has conducted similar surveys in the past, the first by our company almost a decade ago, the results have always been overwhelmingly positive.
More recently, in April 2011, the Clean Energy Council engaged Newspoll to conduct a nation-wide poll which found that over 80 per cent of respondents wanted to see more renewable energy.
So, the numbers have consistently demonstrated overwhelming support for renewable energy over a long period of time. It’s a pity that some sections of the media continue to ignore this in favour of sensationalist headlines and misinformed commentary.
Through initiatives like the 14,000 conversations report and the “Say Yes” campaign which is seeing tens of thousands of people rally for a price on carbon, we are starting to hear the voice of everyday Australians. And yes, we do include people like Cate Blanchett and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, or any other prominent Australian who wishes to have their voice heard in that category.
However, now is not the time for this fledgling industry to rest on its laurels. The renewable energy industry must be vigilant and active in responding to issues, as the negative reports and misinformation will not subside, with some sections of the press, egged on by various activists and climate change deniers, will seek to demonise renewable energy technologies like wind and solar.
We simply can’t take continued public support for granted. The entire industry must work hard to maintain the community's trust and to ensure they remain well informed by verifiable facts lest they begin to believe the fiction peddled by those opposed.
We know there will always be people who are threatened by new technology and there will be those who oppose action on climate change. However, it is undeniable that most Australians want to embrace this clean energy future now.
As the 100% Renewable Energy team have said: “Just Get on With It”.
Lane Crockett is general manager, Australia, at Pacific Hydro