Research released today shows overwhelming backing for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon among Conservative MPs and Councillors, with more than four in five saying they support the project.
The ComRes research , commissioned by Tidal Lagoon Power (TLP), surveyed 150 MPs from across the UK, including 61 Conservative, and 303 Conservative councillors across England and Wales.
The research showed that 84% of Conservative councillors, and 83% of Conservative MPs support the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project.
Across the UK, the vast majority of Conservative MPs and Councillors recognise the project as a potential first step towards a large new source of power that is both secure and long-term, TLP said.
They also agree that its environmental impacts are manageable, while its UK supply chain opportunities are high, according to TLP.
Gower MP Byron Davies said: “I held an event for this project in the Houses of Parliament and it was striking how much support the project has not just from Welsh MP’s but from Members from across the United Kingdom. There is a genuine cross party consensus building on the potential of tidal lagoon technology and I look forward to continuing these cross party efforts in support of this project in the near future.”
Andy Field , Head of Communications at Tidal Lagoon Power, said: “What’s interesting about this research is that support for Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon runs deeper: there is a common appreciation among Conservatives that this project signals the start of something different in UK energy. And as the scale and cost efficiencies of tidal lagoons are better understood, we’re confident support will grow further still.”