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4 | 2nd - 8th May 2014 | UtILIty WEEK National media Public support for renewables the British public favour renewable power, according to the latest Public attitudes tracker Survey from decc. 80% support the use of renewable energy to provide the UK's electric- ity, fuel and heat. 70% of people support or strongly sup- port the use of onshore wind 59% would be happy to have a large- scale renewable energy develop- ment in their area 42% of UK adults sup- ported the use of nuclear energy 29% support UK shale gas exploration Gazprom ultimatum over Ukraine gas Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom has ratcheted up the pressure on Ukraine, issuing a 7 May ultimatum to settle $3.5 billion in unpaid debts or start paying in advance for its gas. Alexander Medvedev, deputy chief executive, said Europe must help Ukraine pay the bill or face "severe problems" with gas sup- plies this winter. "If they don't pre-pay they are not entitled to get any gas," he told reporters in London. The Telegraph We're almost 100% green, says Apple Tech giant Apple claims that 94 per cent of its cor- porate facilities are now powered by renewable energy. Ahead of Earth Day, it said climate change was real and a real problem for the world, while announcing its progress on environment targets. It said 94 per cent of its corporate facilities and 100 per cent of its data centres were powered by renewables. The Guardian BP's quarterly profits and production tumble BP reported a 24 per cent slump in quarterly profit as the energy giant continues to reshape itself aer the Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster. Underlying first-quarter replace- ment-cost profit, which strips out inventory gains or losses and is the oil industry's preferred measure, fell $1 billion to $3.23 billion (£1.9 billion) compared with the same period last year. The result was bet- ter than analysts expected. The Times story by NUMbErs T he awareness campaign for the Green Deal run by the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (Decc) has "failed", MPs were told on Tuesday (29 April). Three of the major energy suppliers gave evidence to MPs as part of the Energy and Cli- mate Change select committee's ongoing watching brief into the government's flagship energy efficiency programme. Simon Stacey, managing director of energy services at Npower, told the committee Decc had failed to promote the Green Deal well enough. He said: "Their ambition was to do 10,000 [Green Deal plans] by the end of last year and against that, yes they have failed." By the end of March 2014, a total of 2,000 Green Deal plans had been agreed. Stacey said a national aware- ness campaign run by Decc last year was not successful because "the feedback from customers is that they don't understand the Green Deal". Gillian Noble, head of UK government obligations at Scot- tish Power, agreed and told MPs a government-led promotional campaign "has to be ongoing" to ensure customers understand the scheme. Claire Williams, managing director at British Gas New Energy, said 43 per cent of cus- tomers said they were aware of the Green Deal, only 9 per cent would be willing to have a Green Deal assessment, primarily due to a lack of understanding. The trio told MPs the golden rule – whereby measures are paid for by the savings made by the energy efficiency upgrades – was "too restrictive". Seven days... "Those who make handsome profits for the company have a right to a pay rise that keeps up with the cost of living." Unite regional officer Kasab Onay on the decision by EDF Energy staff to move ahead with two strikes this May. Decc campaign to sell Green Deal has 'failed' £500m the amount deputy prime minister nick Clegg said the government will invest to help develop the ultra low emissions vehicle industry.