The report of this year also includes a new examination dimension. Citizens' energy opinions are compared with the opinions of the players in society, and differences between these opinions are measured. The material of the study Energy industry's public image¹ enables this comparison. In this study, assessments are made by players and experts representing different sectors in society (political decision-makers, authorities, the media, organisations, research institutes and companies). This data is comparable, as it has been acquired using the same questions, the same data acquisition method and also at the same time.

One of the central settings of comparison (the studies include several identical measurements, and only part of them can be shown here) is the attitudes of 'the people and the elite' towards various energy forms. There are both similaritities and differences between these attitudes. Roughly, negative attitude towards coal and oil and positive attitude towards hydro, wood and wind power can be said to be among the common factors. The most distinct differences in attitudes concern nuclear power and natural gas. Both of these energy forms are clearly more favoured by decision-makers than by citizens. However, the views are not directly contraditory in any of the alternatives [Figure 35.].

The greatest acceptance of the players was given to wood and other green energy (89% in favour of increase in their use). Wind power (78%), nuclear power (76%) and natural gas (75%) come close behind them. The nuclear power decision arouses mainly one type of reactions among players. The claim 'Parliament made the correct decision when it granted a licence for the construction of a new nuclear power plant' is agreed with by more than four out of five (84%, not in the figure; this question was not posed to the basic population).

Assessment of the basic principles of energy policy (more detailed information about citizens' assessments, cf. chapter 3.) reveals a relatively clear and systematic difference in the direction of attitudes. The attitudes of the players are characteristically 'harder' than those of citizens. The availability, security of generation and efficiency viewpoints indicating this direction are emphasised more in this group. As to the 'soft' safety and environmental viewpoints, the difference is the opposite. The structure of citizens' valuations is somewhat less uniform that that of the players [Figure 36.].

Although attitudes towards the use of coal are highly critical in both groups, no final verdict is given to this energy form. If the use is restricted to co-generation suggesting that 'Co-generation of district heat and electricity is such an efficient way of using energy that in this case the use of coal and other fossil fuels should also be accepted', the claim is much more widely agreed with. Of the players, one in two (52%) agree, while about one in four disagree (27%). Citizens' figures improve and are almost neutral, although their views show great uncertainty [Figure 37-a.].

The decision about Vuotos was seen by the compared groups in different ways. The claim 'The decision not to build the Vuotos basin was correct' arouses much more rejection (63%) than approval (25%) among the players. Citizens' opinions show approval rather than rejection (41% agree, 22% disagree) [Figure 37-b.].

Although players have a positive attitude towards wind power and other forms of alternative energy as such, there is extensive scepticism about the potential use of these sources of energy in practice. There is a great difference compared with citizens' optimism - many people think that mostly the problem is only lack of good will. The claim 'Wind and solar power could be put into extensive use in Finland fairly soon, if there was a willingness to invest in the research and development work on these technologies' is viewed by the compared groups almost in opposite ways. Only a third of the players (32%) agree with the assessment of the great majority of citizens (70%) [Figure 37-c.].

Attitude towards electricity markets also shows a difference of degree. The overall estimate of the players about the functioning of the system so far is positive rather than negative. The claim 'Now that there is several years' experience in the deregulation of the electricity market, it can be said that the solution was successful' is significantly more agreed with (46%) than disagreed with (22%) in this group. However, the number of sceptics as well as the great proportion of those in doubt (31% have no clear opinion) refers to the fact that there is no complete confidence. Citizens' opinions are characterised by even greater uncertaintty [Figure 37-d.].

The views about the environmental responsibility of the energy industry do no reflect any direct difference of opinion, even though there are differences in attitudes. The claim 'Finnish energy companies are currently acting in an environmentally responsible way' is confirmed by the great majority of the players (79%). Although citizens' opinions are a little weaker (53% agree, 13% disagree), they shall also be considered significantly positive, considering the character of this statement - citizens' recognition is hard to achieve in these types of issues [Figure 37-e.].

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¹The study was carried out by order of Finergy's Environmental research pool in the autumn of 2003. It is based on replies given by 603 people. As the influential elite proved to be relatively homogeneous in its attitudes and valuations, it is examined as one group in this comparison. Information about the differing views of the various groups of players, as well as further results of this study (the questions covered several themes, and only part of them were included in the study concerning citizens), are given on Finergy's site ( www.finergy.fi ).