USA poll finds renewable energy favoured far more than coal, gas, nuclear power

Energy efficiency, renewable energy rules favored by voters, poll finds, Cleveland.com By John Funk, The Plain Dealer on September 05, 2014 COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio voters favor the state’s renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates that Republican lawmakers just put on ice for two years, a new poll suggests.

Commissioned by a coalition of environmental groups and conducted jointly by two national polling companies, one which works for Republican candidates and the other for Democratic candidates, the poll interviewed 405 registered Ohio voters and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

The survey found that voters would favor political candidates by a two-to-one margin who favor more wind and solar energy development over those who think the state’s reliance on coal, gas and nuclear power is adequate. A total of 64 percent favored the green candidates while only 31 percent said they would be more likely to vote for candidates supporting traditional energy production.

The poll also found that 69 percent of voters would favor candidates who believe requiring electric utilities to help customers use less electricity would save ratepayers money, while just 23 percent would vote for candidates who argue that such mandated efficiency programs cost ratepayers more than they save.

Other key findings include:

– Democrats and independents, 82 percent and 61 percent respectively, favor candidates who would push for clean energy, while Republican voters are split evenly at 47 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed.

– A majority of voters, whether Democrat, Independent or Republican, like the idea of gradually requiring utilities to generate or at least sell more and more power generated by wind, solar and other renewable technologies. About 87 percent of Democratic voters said they favored such renewable growth, 70 percent of independents and 56 percent of Republicans said they were in favor.

– The end of coal-fired power plants is blowing in the wind. Three quarters of all those surveyed said they favored cleaner sources of energy and 91 percent said they supported diversifying how electricity is generated.

—- Everyone loves the idea of energy efficiency, at least generally speaking. A total of 85 percent of Republican voters said they strong support energy efficiency, 81 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of independents.

– Large majorities of those surveyed said they favored policies that would make residential rooftop solar more affordable. They also support job training programs for wind and solar installers………

The survey was designed and conducted by pollsters at Public Opinion Strategies, the largest Republican polling company in the nation, and by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin,, Metz & Associates, a national Democratic opinion research company. The two companies have conducted joint research projects for political campaigns and businesses in 42 states. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/09/energy_efficiency_renewable_en.html