On Monday 30 September, 2024, the UK’s final remaining coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar is being permanently switched off, marking the end of coal-powered electricity in the UK. Climate Outreach and More in Common have polled 2080 people, in a nationally-representative sample across England, Scotland and Wales, to find out how people feel at this historic moment. Nearly two thirds (65%) say they support shifting energy production from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Only 8% oppose this shift. (1)

The planned closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, is set against a backdrop of soaring public support for renewable energy. 77% of Brits want to see an expansion in solar panels, 69% in solar farms, 70% in offshore wind and 65% in onshore wind. 66% want to see investment in retraining and supporting people working in the coal, oil and gas sectors.

The poll also probed views about the closure itself, with more than twice as many people saying they felt it was a good thing (45%) than those who said it was a bad thing (19%).

These findings echo detailed nationwide research before the general election, and findings from additional focus groups soon afterwards. From Clacton-on Sea to Tees Valley, residents are broadly supportive of clean energy. They say they love seeing wind turbines, but have questions about the costs of household energy measures like solar panels – despite support for them more generally. (2)

Rachael Orr, CEO of Climate Outreach says:

“There’s a future of clean energy ahead for our country - and it’s a future that Brits are increasingly keen to see. The vast majority of us are now big fans of renewable energy - and there’s an opportunity to power a cleaner and more energy-secure future.

As we move away from fossil fuels, people want to see investment in supporting and retraining workers.

The government is right to be ambitious about clean power and net zero - and the public is largely behind them. To deliver this next chapter, they must support workers, communities and the country as a whole to be a part of the coming change.”

- ENDS -

Notes for editors:

For more information and interviews please contact Jasmin Souesi at Climate Outreach on media@climateoutreach.org or 07943 072743.

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1. The poll was co-designed by Climate Outreach and More in Common, and run by More in Common.

2. Research mentioned here includes findings from focus groups in five constituencies run by Climate Outreach and More in Common before and after the UK 2024 General Election: Clacton, Tees Valley and East Worthing & Shoreham (pre-election - June 2024); Suffolk Coastal and Waveney Valley (post-election - July 2024). This research was funded by European Climate Foundation. [https://climateoutreach.org/reports/new-parliaments-climate-story].

Research also includes findings from Britain Talks Climate 2024, an update of the influential Britain Talks Climate research initially conducted in 2020 by Climate Outreach, More in Common, European Climate Foundation & YouGov. The 2024 research, funded by European Climate Foundation, involved a 5,100 person, nationally representative survey, including 1,000 person samples in Wales and Scotland respectively, as well as 7 focus groups with the seven British segments. Northern Ireland was not included in this update because it was not part of the original study. [https://climateoutreach.org/britain-talks-climate]

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