Wind Energy

In Iowa, the state that knows wind energy the best, voters overwhelmingly support it

Voters in Iowa, the state that launched the wind energy revolution with the first renewable energy purchase requirement in 1983 – and where this year so far, wind has generated 18.8% of the state’s electricity – overwhelmingly approve of wind power and the companies that make wind farm and wind turbines.

That’s the message of a new survey of 400 likely Iowa voters plus 308 additional likely Republican Iowa caucus-goers, by Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies, who is also polling this year for GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney.

The survey finds that:

– 85% statewide have a favorable impression of wind energy and wind power companies, including 62% with a "very favorable" impression.

– A majority of Iowa voters choose wind as their preferred energy source for the state, more than a 3-to-1 over all other sources.

– Over eight in ten voters (81%) say wind energy companies have been good for the state’s economy, while fully 77% say these companies have helped bring new jobs to the state.

"In the state that knows wind energy the best, people overwhelmingly like it – and the companies that make it," Bode said. "These poll results ought to reassure anyone thinking about inviting wind energy into their community, and getting all the rural economic development benefits and manufacturing base that Iowa has gotten from wind power."

The attached memo from the pollsters describes these and other findings in the survey, conducted May 22-24, 2011 with a margin of error of +/- 4.9% for the statewide results.

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