Researchers at the Pew Environment Group recently commissioned studies gauging voter perceptions about global warming and clean energy resources in what it describes as three swing states and five swing congressional districts.
The polls was conducted by both The Mellman Group and Public Opinion Strategies (so as to avoid the perception of party-level bias). At a high-level, the surveys found that there is support in the three states — Michigan, Ohio and Missouri — for two-part legislation that would address the United States’ need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions AND require more use of clean energy alternatives.
Here’s the exact question:
“Congress is considering an energy plan that has two key parts. One part would require factories and power companies to reduce their emissions of the carbon pollution that causes global warming by 17 percent (20 percent in Missouri) by the year 2020 and by 80 percent by the year 2050. The other part would require power companies to generate 15 percent of their power from clean energy sources like wind and solar by the year 2025. Would you favor/oppose this entire plan?”
Here are the results:
- 75 percent in Michigan favor
- 68 percent in Ohio favor
- 67 percent in Missouri favor
The margin of error is + or - 4 percent overall.
The results for the congressional districts also showed widespread support for legislation that takes a tougher more prescriptive stance on both reducing emissions AND encouraging broader use of clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels.
