DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec 20, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire
Sending a clear message to state officials and presidential candidates,
nearly four out of five Iowans (79 percent) -- including 69 percent of
Republicans, 86 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Independents -- think
that "Iowa should focus on increased (energy) conservation steps and more
fuel efficiency to reduce demand for electricity before it constructs new
coal-fired power plants," according to a major new Opinion Research
Corporation (ORC) survey commissioned by Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, Iowa
Farmers Union and Plains Justice. Supporters of the "conservation/energy
efficiency first" approach include 75 percent of the most likely caucus
attendees, including 67 percent who will attend Republican caucuses and 88
percent who will participate in Democratic caucuses.
As other states including Kansas and Florida take active steps to roll back
plans for coal-fired power plants within their borders, Iowa officials are
contemplating the future of two such facilities proposed for construction
near Waterloo and Marshalltown.
Another key finding of the ORC survey of 1,005 Iowa residents: Two thirds of
likely Iowa caucus goers and 65 percent of all state residents - including
58 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of
Independents - favor a "one-year-long statewide dialogue in Iowa involving
state officials, citizens, unions and utility company regulators to help
shape the energy future of Iowa during which current coal-fired power plant
plans would be frozen to allow for the most comprehensive discussion."
The survey commissioned by Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, the Iowa Farmer's
Union and Plains Justice also found that roughly nine out of 10 Iowans (89
percent) - including a nearly identical 88 percent of Republicans, 89
percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Independents -- agree that "the state
government of Iowa, as a matter of formal policy, encourages more public and
private investment in alternative energy to help create new jobs in the
state."
Commenting on behalf of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light about the new survey
findings, Bishop Alan Scarfe of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa said: "With
all our eyes focused on the disappointing response of the United States
administration to the conversation and conclusions of the Bali meeting, this
is an opportunity for our own Governor of Iowa to demonstrate that many
Iowans are among the people within the United States who nevertheless
understand the deeper implications of the crisis upon us. From the
perspective of the religious communities, the recently proposed coal-fired
power plants threaten rather than assist our progress towards renewable
energy. The intention of placing them in the demographics of our most
at-risk individuals, Marshalltown with its large Latino population, and
Waterloo with its greater number of African Americans may have the
appearance of providing employment, but at great cost to the health of the
participants, as well as the families in the proposed areas. Iowans have
shown in this poll that they want time for discussions at the highest level
of public representation."
Iowa Farmers Union President Chris Petersen said: "In a time of skyrocketing
energy costs, Iowa Farmers Union supports legislation that promotes the
advancement of renewable energy technology to reduce our dependence on
foreign oil and fossil fuels and gives farmers the opportunity to own the
means of production."
Carrie La Seur, president, Plains Justice, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a member
of the Iowa Power Fund Board said: "At a January Iowa Utilities Board
hearing, an impressive slate of national experts will testify that the
proposed Marshalltown coal plant would be a costly mistake. Iowa's renewable
energy revolution is the answer for our power needs, not a $1.5 billion
investment in 19th Century technology. We call on the governor to protect
Iowa's investment by giving our energy and climate planning processes a
chance to work before we permit any new coal plants."
Graham Hueber, senior research, Opinion Research Corporation said: "These
findings are bad news for people who want to build coal-fired power plants
in Iowa. The survey clearly shows that majorities of Democratic and
Republican caucus goers - as well as other Iowa adults - would prefer to see
an alternative that does not involve putting new coal-fired power plants in
the state. We find strong support here for enhanced energy conservation and
a major infusion of state and private investment dollars in clean energy. It
is also evident that health concerns associated with power plant pollution
are seen as a legitimate public health issue, particularly when it comes to
children."
KEY SURVEY FINDINGS
The ORC survey conducted for Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, the Iowa
Farmer's Union and Plains Justice also found the following:
-- More than three out of five Iowans (64 percent) - including 73 percent of
Democrats, 54 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Independents agree
with the following statement: " ... the best energy alternative is greater
efficiency and conservation to eliminate waste, combined with more wind,
solar power and other alternative energy ... doing this would ultimately
save money in the form of economic benefits to the state, such as cleaner
air, healthier children, and fewer public health risks. Therefore, we should
not build additional coal-fired power plants in Iowa."
-- More than three in five of Iowans (62 percent) are "concerned about the
possible ill health effects - including asthma and heart problems - that
could be experienced by you, your family members and others as the result of
increased pollution from new coal-fired power plants in Iowa." This figure
includes less than half (48 percent) of Republicans, but 73 percent of
Democrats. Three out of four individuals indicating that they will attend a
Democratic caucus expressed concern about this issue.
-- Three out of four Iowans -- including 61 percent of Republicans, 86
percent of Democrats, and 75 percent of Independents -- are less likely to
support new coal-fired power plants when told: "Coal-fired power plants are
the primary source of carbon dioxide pollution - a known contributor to
global warming." This view is shared by 72 percent of those most likely to
attend a caucus, including 60 percent of those attending a Republican caucus
and 85 percent of those attending a Democratic caucus.
-- More than three out of four Iowans (77 percent) -- including 68 percent
of Republicans, 84 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Independents --
are less likely to support new coal-fired power plants in the state when
told: "Much of the power generated at the new coal-fired plants in Iowa
would be sold to out of state customers but Iowa would get all or nearly all
of the resulting pollution."
-- More than three out of four Iowans (77 percent) -- including 69 percent
of Republicans, 85 percent of Democrats and 74 percent of Independents --
are less likely to support new coal-fired power plants when told: "Hundreds
of thousands of children live in Iowa within a 30-mile-radius of a
coal-fired power plant." This view is shared by 75 percent of the most
likely caucus attendees, including 68 percent of Republican attendees and 84
percent of Democratic attendees.
-- Fewer than one in three Iowans (31 percent) -- including only 42 percent
of Republicans, 23 percent of Democrats and 28 percent of Independents --
see "access to affordable electricity" as a sufficient justification for
building new coal fired power plants in the state.
-- Four out five Iowans -- including 71 percent of Republicans, 87 percent
of Democrats, and 86 percent of Independents - think that older,
"grandfathered" power plants should be required to "install the advanced
pollution control devices required for new electricity-generating facilities
before new coal-fired power plants are built" in the state. This view is
shared by 79 percent of the most likely caucus attendees, including 67
percent of Republican attendees and 88 percent of Democratic attendees.
-- Only about two out of five Iowans (42 percent) say they favor "building
new coal-fired power plants in the state," compared to a total of 58 percent
who either oppose new plants or have not yet made up their mind. Only about
a third (34 percent) of Democrats favor new plants, compared with 43 percent
who oppose them and 23 percent who have not decided. Over half of
Republicans (55 percent) support new plants, with 27 percent opposed and 18
percent undecided. Fewer than two in four Independents (38 percent) support
new coal-fired power plants, compared to 33 percent who oppose them and 28
percent who are undecided.
-- Fewer than two out of five Iowans (37 percent) are aware of "pending
plans for coal-fired power plants in Iowa near Waterloo and Marshalltown."
Awareness varies widely by region with 64 percent of those in the Cedar
Rapids area (which includes Waterloo) knowing of such plan, 34 percent
awareness in Des Moines (closer to Marshalltown) and only 22 percent in the
rest of the state.
-- A third of respondents said that they will "definitely attend" or are
"extremely likely" to attend a caucus, including 31 percent of Republicans
and 40 percent of Democrats.
-- 39 percent of the respondents were Republican/Independents leaning
Republican, 47 percent were Democrats/Independents leaning Democratic, 37
percent were Independents, and 2 percent were associated with other parties.
-- About nine out of 10 respondents (89 percent) said they are registered to
vote.
For full survey findings, go http://plainsjustice.org/filings-for-marshalltown-iowa-coal-plant-proposal/
on the Web.
METHODOLOGY
Survey results are based on telephone interviews conducted among a
representative sample of 1,005 adults aged 18 and over living in private
households in Iowa. Interviewing was completed by Opinion Research
Corporation during the period of December 7-11, 2007. The margin of error is
plus or minus 3 percentage points for the complete sample of Iowa adults.
Smaller sub-groups will have larger error margins.
ABOUT THE GROUPS
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light (http://www.ncrlc.com/IICEC.html) is part of a
national network dedicated to protecting God's sacred creation and
safeguarding public health. Iowa Interfaith Power & Light has worked with
more than 150 faith communities in Iowa to reduce global warming pollution
while empowering those most impacted by higher energy costs, by increasing
investment in energy efficiency and by creating new revenue streams through
clean energy.
The Iowa Farmers Union (http://www.iafu.org) works to sustain and strengthen
the family farm agricultural system in the United States through education,
legislation and cooperation.
With headquarters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Plains Justice (http://plainsjustice.org)
is a public interest environmental law center working for environmental
justice and sustainable communities in the Northern Plains region of the
U.S., including eastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and
Iowa. The Plains Justice docket includes Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act,
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and energy policy work.
EDITOR'S NOTE: A streaming audio recording of the news event will be
available on the Web as of 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET on December 20, 2007 at
http://plainsjustice.org/filings-for-marshalltown-iowa-coal-plant-proposal/.
SOURCE Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, Des Moines, IA; Iowa Farmers Union,
Ames, IA; Plains Justice, Cedar Rapids, IA
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