Americans Overwhelmingly Support Extending Renewable Energy
Incentives, Says National Poll
Apr 07 - PR Newswire
While members of Congress appear divided on whether or not to extend
federal incentives for clean energy, their constituents are not,
according to a national poll of U.S. homeowners commissioned by Clean
Edge, Inc. and SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) and conducted by national
polling firm Zogby Analytics. In the second annual survey, 74 percent of
Americans polled favored continuing federal tax incentives that support
the growth of the solar and wind industries, including 82% of Democrats,
two thirds of Republicans (67%) and 72% of Independents.
A nation divided on a range of issues appears overwhelmingly united
in its support of renewables, with nearly nine in ten Americans (87%)
saying renewable energy is important to the country's future. When
homeowners were asked to pick which specific energy sources were most
important to the nation's future, solar (50%) and wind (42%) led the
pack, followed by natural gas (33%) and energy efficiency (25%). Lower
in the rankings were one-time energy stalwarts nuclear power (14%) and
coal (8%). Solar power was the top choice among a wide range of
demographic groups including Republicans, Democrats, Independents,
conservatives, liberals, city and rural dwellers, youth, and the
elderly. The report, "U.S. Homeowners on Clean Energy: A National
Survey," is available for download at www.solarcity.com/newsroom/reports
and www.cleanedge.com/reports .
"There's a misconception that the nation is divided on its attitudes
toward clean energy, but our research shows this to be false," says
Clean Edge managing director and report lead author Ron Pernick . "There
is broad support for renewables across the political spectrum.
Opposition to solar fees charged by utilities, for example, is higher
among Republicans (66%) than Democrats (53%)."
Additional Key Report Findings:
- Survey respondents say they care about the environment, but it's
cost savings that truly motivate them. Similar to last year's
findings, "saving money" (82%) tops the list as the primary
motivator influencing homeowners' decisions to purchase clean-energy
products and services.
- When making investment decisions, a majority of homeowners say
that they consider the social/environmental impact of their
investments (52%). Three quarters (74%) said that such investments
would be compelling if they offered a "potentially higher return
than other options." More than 60% said that such investments would
be compelling if they offered "equal or higher return than other
options." When it comes to investments, sustainability doesn't trump
returns, however. Support drops to 22% when such investments offer a
"slightly lower return than other options."
- Over the next year, the most planned clean-energy purchase by
homeowners is LED light bulbs (27%), followed by smart thermostats,
Energy Star-rated hot water heaters, double- or triple-pane windows,
and hybrid cars.
- Support for natural gas and nuclear decline significantly with
younger respondents. Natural gas was supported by those over 70
(43%) but dropped down to 27% for those aged 18-24. Nuclear power
was supported by those over 70 (24%) but dropped precipitously to 8%
for ages 25-34 and to just 1% for ages 18-24.
- In addition to analyzing results from the public survey, the
report also looked at clean-energy adoption rates in the U.S.
through the end of 2013. The 11-year compound annual growth rates
(CAGRs) for the purchase of clean-energy products and services
continue to be in the double digits, with LEED-certified projects at
56%, solar PV at 52%, hybrid electric vehicles at 24%, and
utility-scale clean electricity generation at 20%. Between 2009 and
2013, LEDs experienced a CAGR of 145% and EVs chalked up a 309% CAGR
between 2010 and 2013.
1,400 U.S. homeowners participated in the survey conducted by Zogby
Analytics. Respondents were randomly selected to answer questions about
renewables, energy efficiency, clean transportation, green investing,
conventional energy sources, electric utilities, and other related
topics. All interviews were completed in late January 2014 . Based on a
confidence interval of 95%, the margin of error for the survey is +/-
2.7 percentage points.
Upcoming Webinar
SolarCity CEO Lyndon Rive , internationally respected pollster and
Zogby Analytics senior analyst John Zogby , and report lead author and
Clean Edge managing director Ron Pernick will discuss the poll findings
in a webinar on Monday, April 20th at 9 AM Pacific/ 12 PM
Eastern. Interested attendees can click here to register.
About Clean Edge
Clean Edge, Inc. , founded in 2000, is the world's first research
and advisory firm devoted to the clean-tech sector. The firm delivers an
unparalleled suite of clean-energy benchmarking services including stock
indexes, utility and consumer surveys, and regional leadership tracking,
providing Fortune 500s, clean-tech companies, investors, NGOs, and
governments with timely research, trending analysis, and actionable
insights. Managing director Ron Pernick and senior editor Clint Wilder
are coauthors of the widely acclaimed business books The Clean Tech
Revolution (HarperCollins, 2007) and Clean Tech Nation
(HarperCollins, 2012). To keep abreast of the latest clean-tech trends,
or for more information on the company, visit www.cleanedge.com .
About SolarCity
SolarCity® (NASDAQ: SCTY) provides clean energy. The company has
disrupted the century-old energy industry by providing renewable
electricity directly to homeowners, businesses, and government
organizations for less than they spend on utility bills. SolarCity gives
customers control of their energy costs to protect them from rising
rates. The company makes clean energy easy by taking care of everything
from design and permitting to monitoring and maintenance. SolarCity
currently serves 16 states. Visit the company online at
www.solarcity.com and follow the company on Facebook & Twitter .
Media Contacts
For Clean Edge
Sabrina Gonzales 305-926-3122 gonzales@cleanedge.com
For SolarCity
Molly Canales 650-963-5674 press@solarcity.com
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SOURCE Clean Edge, Inc.
http://www.energycentral.com/functional/news/news_detail.cfm?did=35742408
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