A new poll suggests that a majority of people in Scotland support renewable energy as the country’s long term source of power. Fifty five percent of those surveyed said renewables such as wind, solar and hydro should meet future energy needs, compared with seventeen percent who favoured fossil fuels and fourteen percent who backed nuclear power.

The survey of more than two thousand adults found that renewables were also the most trusted energy sector, with thirty three percent saying they trusted it to tell the truth about costs, pollution and safety. Nuclear energy ranked lowest on trust. Nearly half of respondents believed renewables were most likely to reduce household energy bills, while fewer than one in five said nuclear power would lower costs.

The findings come as energy policy becomes a central issue in the Scottish Parliament election campaign. The governing Scottish National Party remains opposed to new nuclear plants, while Labour and the Conservatives support expanding nuclear alongside renewables. Industry representatives and campaign groups used the poll to argue for sharply different visions of Scotland’s energy future.