Yet Another Poll: Americans Want Clean Energy

Everyone’s talking about the latest poll from the Washington Post, which shows Americans support reforming U.S. energy policy and capping greenhouse gas pollution.

• NRDC points out that support for energy policy is slightly higher than it was in June… after a summer’s worth of industry attacks.
• NWF reminds us that it wasn’t just this summer — Americans have been “hit from all sides” by industry-funded campaigns for a year and a half.
• And Climate Progress has this key takeaway: “A lot of people understand energy prices are going up if we do nothing.”

The new poll has a lot of juicy data for clean energy supporters. Here are some of our favorite tidbits:

• 57 percent support the proposed changes to U.S. energy policy being developed by Congress and the administration, and even better —
• When asked if they would support a cap and trade program that lowered greenhouse gases but raised electric bills by $10 month, Americans supported the move by 58 percent to 40 percent.  ($10 is the total cost to households estimated by the Congressional Budget Office)
• The Post says “GOP criticism of the House energy and climate bill appears to have primarily influenced Republicans themselves.” Support for cap-and-trade dropped among Republicans, but rose among independents.
• 36 percent think changes to U.S. energy policy would add more jobs in their state. Only 15 percent think it would cause job losses.
• An amazing 9 out of 10 people support further development of solar and wind power, while 8 out of 10 support development of electric cars.

All this support is wonderful, but our work is far from done. The Wall Street Journal‘s Environmental Capital reminds us that opponents are in the minority, but they are adamant.

Your Senators need to know that these aren’t just poll numbers — they are real voters who care about clean energy. Please call today!