A poll released by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Center for Policy Analysis found that while Massachusetts electric ratepayers generally support wind energy, this support erodes rapidly if wind projects contribute to an increase in electric bills. The poll found that 55% of respondents would not pay more for electricity produced by wind turbines.
The higher the increase to electric bills, the less likely respondents said they were to support the Cape Wind project. When asked if they would be more likely or less likely to support the Cape Wind project if National Grid's purchase of power from Cape Wind was to increase their electric bill from National Grid by ($50, $100, $150) per year, support for the project disappeared as costs to consumers grew.
According to UMass Dartmouth, ‘while 42% of respondents are less likely to support the Cape Wind project if their bill increased by $50 per year, this percentage increases to 67% at the $100 increase per year threshold and to 78% at the $150 increase per year threshold.’
‘Despite the fact that 75% of respondents support or strongly support wind power projects, they are particularly price sensitive to increases to their electric bills as a result of the increased cost to produce offshore wind energy,’ said Clyde Barrow, director of the UMass Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis. ‘Support for the project declines significantly as the estimated effect on a respondent's electric bill increases.’
The survey also found that support for lower electric bills trumps wind energy at the ballot box.
‘In terms of wind power, electric rates and support for political candidates, respondents report they are much more likely to vote for a candidate who endorses policies that cut their electric bill (43%) in comparison to candidates who support wind power projects (26%).’
The UMass Dartmouth Center for Policy Analysis found that much of the support for wind energy was based on survey respondents' false assumption that offshore wind energy will lower their electric bill.
SOURCE: Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound
