SOLAR energy has a very positive rating in the public's mind, while the nuclear industry and coal-fired power stations are at the bottom when people are asked about their perceptions of energy industries.
Coal seam gas, which has become very controversial recently especially in NSW and Queensland, also rates badly.
A UMR survey last month found more than eight in 10 people had a positive view of solar energy; only 10 per cent were negative.
Three-quarters were positive on renewable energy. The gas industry also scored positively (61 per cent), but those rating the coal industry favourably outstripped those seeing it negatively relatively narrowly (45-38 per cent). People were equally divided about the oil industry (42 per cent each).
Only 36 per cent viewed the coal seam gas industry in a good light, compared with 41 per cent who were negative. Coal-fired power stations, which have copped bad publicity in the carbon debate, were seen negatively by almost half (48 per cent) accompanied by 34 per cent who had a benign view. The nuclear industry scored 51 per cent negative and 33 per cent positive in the online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1000
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