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Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Climate Action: 1 - Polls

Public Opinion


Looking at the polls on climate change, and solar panels among the general public and among conservative Republicans we find broad support for more solar on roof-tops among all segments of the population.

Link to here for sharing: https://meetingthetwain.blogspot.com/2018/01/climate-action-1-polls.html

This is part 1 of a series.  Part two is here:
http://meetingthetwain.blogspot.com/2018/01/climate-action-2-rooftop-solar.html

What is popular opinion on clean energy?


But before answering that, how many believe climate change is real?
https://news.utexas.edu/2016/10/27/millennials-views-on-climate-change-could-impact-election
Great!  So by now almost everyone accepts climate change as real.

So is the public for doing something about it?

Absolutely!  Even 75% of Trump supporters are for it (see below).
Here is a recent (2016) survey of US opinion on solar and wind power:

89% favor solar to 9% oppose
83% favor wind to 14% oppose


More homeowners - 44% in the US overall, 66% in the Western US - have either installed or are considering installing solar panels.
From
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/05/americans-strongly-favor-expanding-solar-power-to-help-address-costs-and-environmental-concerns/

Americans are looking at solar to save money (90%) and to help the environment (87%).


http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/10/05/americans-strongly-favor-expanding-solar-power-to-help-address-costs-and-environmental-concerns/
From another survey:
"Of the group of respondents in our survey who said they either had installed or intended to install solar equipment, 73% said they plan to do so within the next three years. Businesses – with their larger power needs – are moving even faster, with 70% planning to move ahead in two years or less."

Another survey:
"75 percent of Trump voters support "action to accelerate the deployment and use of clean energy" -- including solar, wind, energy efficiency, and community renewable projects."

And 86% of all voters support accelerating the development of clean energy including the majority of the GOP base.  Almost 60% strongly support it:
http://www.conservativeenergynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Clean-Energy-Survey4.pdf
Gallup polling shows all time high support for clean energy - majorities of both Democrats and Republicans.

http://news.gallup.com/poll/190268/prioritize-alternative-energy-oil-gas.aspx
So why are politicians waiting?  We have San Francisco mandating solar panels on new construction: