National Poll Shows Americans Want More Wind Power

Americans disapprove of the job that Congress is doing on renewable energy, and believe they are focusing too little on the issue. Looking ahead, Americans believe that the growth in the country’s energy needs can best be met by renewable energy sources.
 
There is a strong sentiment that the nation’s economy would be stronger if we depended more on renewable energy sources like wind turbines. And, Americans are more likely to believe that their utility bills would go down if the country were to get more of its electricity from wind power.

And, they reject any claims that wind energy might be unreliable, too expensive or impractical. The best reason to invest in wind energy: it’s clean and makes the nation less dependent on foreign oil.

"The poll’s bottom line is clear: An overwhelming majority of American voters, on a bipartisan basis, want more wind power and support a national RES to increase its use," said Anna Bennett and Neil Newhouse, partners respectively with Bennett, Petts & Normington and Public Opinion Strategies, the firms that conducted the poll.

"Wind works for America and that is why voters want Congress to pass a strong national RES" said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "Americans understand that an RES will mean new manufacturing jobs, less dependence on imported energy, and more pure, clean, affordable energy for our country."

Poll highlights include:

–An overwhelming, bipartisan majority — 89% — of American voters (including 84% of Republicans, 88% of Independents and 93% of Democrats) — believe increasing the amount of energy the nation gets from wind is a good idea.

–A majority of Americans — 56% — disapprove of the job Congress is doing on renewable energy and 67% believe Congress is not doing enoughto increase renewable energy sources such as wind power.

–A majority of Americans — 82% — believe the nation’s economy would be stronger (52%) or the same (30%) if we used more renewable energy sources like wind energy.

–A majority of Americans — 77% — support a national Renewable Electricity Standard. This support extends across party lines and includes 65% of Republicans, 69% of Independents, 92% of Democrats.

The poll was conducted March 27-28 by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies and Anna Bennett of Bennett, Petts & Normington. The poll sampled a national survey of 600 likely voters. The margin of error is plus or minus four percentage points.

www.awea.org/newsroom/pdf/10205-AWEA-National-Brief.pdf