The 2007 Energy White Paper states that the UK needs an extra 40 to 45% of electricity generating capacity over the next 20 years. However, there is increasing debate about the proposed development of new power plants in the UK. Given recent public interest in new technologies it is important to understand this debate not just in a technological framework, but also within its social context. This POSTnote considers the social acceptability of different forms of electricity generation (mainly measured through opinion polls).