Indiana Poll Finds Bipartisan Support For Wind Energy

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Results of an Indiana poll show strong and deep bipartisan public support for increasing wind farm development in the state through the passage of legislation calling for 10% of electricity sold in Indiana to come from renewable energy by 2020, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

The results of the poll, conducted by research firm Public Opinion Strategies, come as the Indiana House and Senate prepare to take up S.B.251, energy legislation that currently does not create any market for renewable energy.

After passing in the Senate, the bill will head to the House, where it can be amended to establish a renewable energy requirement.


The poll found that 77% of Indiana voters support legislation creating a requirement for 10% renewable energy by 2020. Forty-seven percent of voters ‘strongly’ support such legislation, and 16% oppose it.

The poll reflects recent national polls showing that as much as 89% of Americans want more renewable energy, according to AWEA.

Key findings of the Indiana poll include the following:

– A strong 66% of Republicans statewide support a 10% renewable energy requirement;

– Overall support for this legislation was above 70% in all regions of Indiana and between 77% and 79% in urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state;

– Statewide voter support rose to 84% when told that a 10% requirement would spur construction on six new wind farms in the next two years, creating thousands of new jobs; and

– Voter support for legislation rose to 83% when voters were informed that more than half of the wind energy generated in the state is currently used to deliver power to neighboring states with renewable energy requirements.

Public Opinion Strategies conducted the poll by contacting 600 registered voters in Indiana by telephone on Feb. 16 and 17. The margin of error of the poll is +/- 4% in 95 out of 100 cases. The partisan composition of the sample was 36% Republicans, 28% Democrats and 34% ‘Lean/Independent.’

SOURCE: American Wind Energy Association

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