Renewable Energy in Australia - Public Opinion and Action

Public Opinion and Action

Survey results suggest that there is considerable public support for the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Australia. In one recent survey, 74% of respondents favoured a "greenhouse strategy based mainly on energy efficiency and renewable energy, and 19% favoured an "approach that focuses mainly on nuclear power and clean coal technologies."

The Australian results from the 1st Annual World Environment Review, based on a survey of 1,007 people in 2007, found that:

• 88% of Australians think that the Government should do more to increase the use of solar power. 78% say the government should do more to boost wind power, 58% hydro power, 50% tidal power, and 38% geothermal power, while only 25% think that the Government should do more to increase use of nuclear power.
• 84% of Australians think that the Government should make it easier for people to buy renewable electricity.
• 89% think that all electricity should contain a minimum 25% of power generated from renewable energy sources. Only 3% disagree.
• 82% think that the Government should make it easier for people to buy solar panels.
• 80% think that the Government should make it easier for people to buy energy efficient products, such as energy-saving light globes, water-saving shower heads and insulation etc.
• 85% think that the Government should raise national fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks.
• 87% think that the Government should do more to increase the number of cars that don’t use petrol.

There is a considerable movement known as The Transition Decade to transition Australia's entire energy system to renewable by 2020.

Voluntary uptake of GreenPower, a Government program initiated in 1997 whereby people can pay extra for electricity that is generated from renewable sources, increased from 132,300 customers in 2005 to 904,716 customers in 2009.