Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

9. COMMUNITY & STAKEHOLDER ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire9. Community and Stakeholder Consultation9.1 A national survey was conductedon behalf of the Department of Trade andIndustry on 'Renewable EnergyAwareness and Attitudes' in May 2006 24 .85% of respondents supported the use ofrenewable energy, with 78% supportingthe Government's policy of generating10% of electricity needs from renewablesby 2010.9.2 The Worcestershire Citizens'Panel Survey of June 2007 includedquestions on climate change, energyefficiency and renewable energy. Theresults indicate a clear desire to helpaddress climate change and to increasethe use of renewable energy. The resultsshow that, for Worcestershire residents:90% either support or stronglysupport the generation of renewableenergy within Worcestershire (Q12).51% consider it a high priority thatnew development has a minimumamount of its energy generatedrenewably on-site, with just 9%feeling this is a low priority (Q13c).65% consider improving energyefficiency in existing buildings to bea high priority. Only 4% feel this is alow priority (Q13a).69% consider it a high priority toconstruct extremely energy efficientbuildings. 4% feel this is a lowpriority (Q13b).23% consider the installation oflarge wind turbines/wind farms tobe a high priority, whereas 33% seethis as a low priority.46% consider generating hydroelectricityfrom the County's riversand streams to be a high priority,with 11% feeling this is a lowpriority.These results provide a useful indicationnot only of people's general support forrenewables, but also of the kind ofrenewables technologies that they favour.The responses indicated that people feeldifferently about building-mountedrenewables depending on whether they'remounted on homes or on offices/industrialbuildings. In the case of both solar panelsand micro-wind turbines, residentialbuildings received fewer responsesstating their installation was a 'highpriority' than offices/industrial buildings(see Figs 1 and 2). These responsesunderline the necessity of ensuring thatresidential amenity remains a keyconsideration in planning for renewables.However, it must be recognised thatunder a revised householder permitteddevelopment scheme, certainmicrogeneration technologies will fallbeyond local authority developmentcontrol.24Renewable Energy Awareness and Attitudes Research(DTI/NOP tracker survey published 24 May 2006)22Technical Research Paper