Research conducted by the polling company YouGov suggests 85 per cent of Britons want their energy companies to be forced to use UK base renewable energy sources rather than rely on foreign gas supplies.
Friends of the Earth has launched a petition to be delivered to David Cameron and Ed Davey calling on them to ‘ensure the UK is not locked into another generation of expensive, imported gas.'
In the same poll 64 per cent of participants said they would like to see the country's energy matrix built from wind, wave, tidal and solar power, all of which the UK generates in abundance each year. Only 3 per cent of those polled backed coal, and 2 per cent gas.
Deborah Meaden from the BBC's Dragons Den has backed the campaign, ‘David Cameron needs to listen to the public and say "I'm in" to clean British energy, opening up a multi-billion pound opportunity for British businesses.'
‘Gas, coal and nuclear are the technologies of the past. Our country has the skills and the talent to be world-beaters in the renewable energy technologies of right now. Friends of the Earth's Clean British Energy campaign would switch the UK to home-grown clean power - we can't afford not to,' she says.
Her sentiments where echoed by Craig Bennett, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Friends of the Earth ‘The public has given a clear vote of confidence to clean British energy from our wind, sun and sea - it makes no sense for the Government to pursue an unwanted, costly dash for gas that's causing our fuel bills to rocket.
‘Ministers have a once-in-a-generation chance to transform our electricity market to help smaller businesses, schools and communities plug into clean and affordable power.'
In the annual state opening of parliament this week, the Queen's Speech (an insight into legislation the government intents to introduce this year) talked specifically about the new Energy Bill. ‘My Government will propose reform of the electricity market to deliver secure, clean and affordable electricity and ensure prices are fair.'
TAKE ACTION: Help ensure a clean energy future for Britain by signing the petition at Friends of the Earth campaign page
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