For Third Consecutive Year, National Poll Shows More Than 9 out of 10 Americans Want Solar Now

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- On the eve of Solar Power International, a new national poll shows that the vast majority of Americans overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support has remained consistent over the last three years. These and other findings were reported today in the 2010 SCHOTT Solar Barometer™, a nationally representative survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research.

The survey found that 94 percent of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy. This remains unchanged since Americans were asked the same questions in August 2009 (92 percent) and June 2008 (94 percent). Support is consistent across political party affiliation.

Four out of five (80 percent) feel that Congress should reallocate federal subsidies away from fossil fuel towards renewable energy industries. Nearly half (49 percent) currently considering solar power options for their home or business plan to decide in less than one year.

"For the third consecutive year, the SCHOTT Solar Barometer highlights American's wide and growing support for solar energy," said Dr. Gerald Fine, President and CEO of SCHOTT North America. "We're dedicated to delivering clean reliable energy and have created hundreds of green jobs manufacturing solar products here in the U.S. These findings show that the vast majority of Americans share our goal of promoting and growing the new green industry in the U.S."

"The message from the public is very clear - WE WANT MORE SOLAR ENERGY!  According to this poll, solar energy is more popular than puppy dogs or ice cream.  It's time for policymakers to listen to their constituents and enact measures to rapidly increase our use of solar," said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association® (SEIA). "As we debate many crucial social and economic issues during this midterm election, lawmakers should consider solar, not as an issue, but as an industry they can count on to create jobs, improve U.S. competitiveness, bolster our national security and reduce harmful pollution."

For full survey results and methodology: http://www.schottsolar.com/us/news/top-news/article/for-third-consecutive-year-national-poll-shows-mo/

About SCHOTT Solar: www.schottsolar.com

About SEIA: www.seia.org