In new state polling conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQR), Americans from five states across the country express strong support for generating 100% of electricity using renewable energy, reports the Sierra Club.
The poll, released today by the Sierra Club, surveyed voters in five states: Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
According to the survey results, more than two-thirds of voters in each state surveyed support statewide goals of generating 100% of electricity with clean, renewable sources, such as wind and solar, by 2030.
In total, 67% of Virginia voters, 68% percent of Colorado voters, and roughly 70% voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan support generating all of the electricity in their respective states with renewable sources, says the Sierra Club.
“From the Colorado Rockies to the coast of Virginia, people across the United States are ready for 100 percent clean and renewable energy,” states Jodie Van Horn, director of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Campaign. “Communities already see the benefits of clean energy and are ready to switch to cleaner, more affordable power like wind and solar. That’s why more than 50 cities nationwide have committed to 100 percent clean and renewable energy.”
According to the Sierra Club, 61 cities across the country have already committed to transition to 100% clean energy. Counties and states are increasingly exploring a 100% clean energy transition, as well.
Other key findings from the polling include as follows:
- Most survey respondents are confident that their states can meet a goal of 100% clean energy by 2030. In total, 56% of Ohio voters, 57% percent of Colorado voters, 58% percent of Michigan voters, 53% percent of Pennsylvania voters, and 55% percent of Virginia voters say they believe this goal is realistic.
- Over half of those surveyed in each of the five states say they would have a more favorable impression of an elected official who supports a goal of 100% clean energy.
- Support for a goal of 100% clean energy also cuts across party lines. About two-thirds of both Republican women and ideologically liberal to moderate Republicans back this goal in Pennsylvania. Over six in 10 Republican and independent voters in Ohio support the goal.
“State and local leaders across the country should take note: Our most recent survey found that at least two-thirds of voters in every state we polled support transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy sources, and a majority would feel more favorable towards a local official if they supported 100 percent renewable energy,” says Elizabeth Sena, partner at GQR.
The individual state memos can be found here.
GQR conducted the survey among 500 registered voters in each of the five states surveyed (Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia) on Dec. 12-17, 2017, using live interviewers. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence level.
