The long decreased trend of coal - rejection stronger every year - seems to have reached its culmination. This is not, however, a sign of any improvement in the reputation of coal. The figures are still rather desolate and clearly more negative than the lowest figures in the early 1990s (affected by the debate over forest death and acid rain at the time). Undoubtedly, the latest development of attitudes has been speeded up by the debate on climate change, in which coal has clearly been given much of the blame. With the start of emission trading the energy form has received an outright outcast status. It is evident that since 1986, when the use of coal was hoped to be increased rather than decreased, the support for coal has declined radically.

The approval of peat has remained at the level of the previous survey. The development of the support for this energy form shows clear variation, gradual increases and decreases in approval. During the last three years, attitudes have shown a declining trend. The latest peak of support seven years back has remained at a distance. The long-term trend in the fluctuation in attitudes does not seem to be directly connected to the debate on greenhouse gas emissions. However, the attention that peat has received in connection with emissions trade is probably reflected in the figures for the previous years to some extent.

The popularity of natural gas is considerably lower than in the previous year. The change is most probably a result of the attention given to certain international events. The policy of closing the supply from those who voice unwanted opinions is also reflected in other indications that show a growing concern for the availability and price development of natural gas. The history of the opinions on this energy form is peculiar in other ways as well. Its permanent popularity in the early part of the follow-up period - the attitudes towards this energy form remained incomparably positive for sixteen years - turned into a visible downswing seven years ago. After this somewhat surprising change, the figures became even more negative, as if they were seeking the correct level. The three surveys preceding the current one indicated a stabilisation of attitudes. It seems that there are several reasons for the development of attitudes. In addition to issues relating to availability and price, the flattening of the environmental image of the energy form probably added to the reservations. Natural gas, traditionally considered environmentally viable, has been revealed as a fossil fuel, not necessarily a good friend to the climate.

On the other hand, the popularity of hydropower has held on for a long time. The extensive acceptance of this energy form has continued steady for a noteworthy period. When examined by decade, the support development even takes a gradually rising shape. The average opinions in the 1990s were more accepting than those in the 1980s, and those in the 2000s are more accepting than those in the 1990s. The current figures represent, although by a very narrow margin, the greatest sympathies towards hydropower in the entire follow-up period. The firm support is above all a result from the domestic origin and lack of emissions of the energy form. The attitudes towards hydropower do, however, show a contradiction between support in principle and practical measures. The construction of new hydropower plants is shunned due to the disadvantages for the environment and fishing. Citizens do not have a very clear opinion about the Vuotos decision. However, the decision of not building the Vuotos reservoir is considered rather the right than the wrong decision. In northern Finland the distribution is similar, only further polarised (not included in the figure).

The attitudes towards nuclear power have remained on the same approving level that they rose to in the survey three years ago. More specifically, the current distribution is the most positive toward nuclear power in the entire follow-up period. Those in favour of increasing its share are now more numerous and those demanding decrease fewer than ever before in the 24 years of the survey. The newest result confirms the view that sees the trend as a relatively permanent shift instead of a momentary swing or a statistical error. The change in attitudes is also assessed later in connection with the attitudes towards the building of a fifth nuclear power plant (Chapter 2.).

Wood and other bioenergy sources were as desired sources of energy for electricity generation as in the previous years. The support is not only strong, but also relatively stable. This fuel category has only been included in the comparative series of questions in seven surveys, so we cannot present a longer-term development for its support. The other follow-up questions on the use of wood, however, indicate a steady trend of positive basic attitudes. Domestic origin and employment considerations have been deemed the key factors in favour of the use of wood as an energy source. The positive attitude also shows in the wish to promote the use of bioenergy, even through tax relief. Also the view that it would be more beneficial to use biomass for production of energy and heat than to refine it to fuels for use in vehicles gains more support than objections (not included in the figure).

For wind power, the survey also points at unambiguously high figures. In the previous survey, a slight decrease was observed. It did not, however, indicate any significant increase in scepticism, but was more likely a temporary hiccup in the trend. As is the case with wood, this form of energy was only included in the comparison for the seventh time. Even earlier, the popularity of wind power has proven high practically every time that this question has been brought up in any form. Views on wind power are also examined in this study under the subject of attitudes toward alternative energy forms (Chapter 5.).