clean energy policy
TRANSCRIPT
CLEAN ENERGY POLICY
Clean Air PrioritiesGreen Banks
A NATIONAL SURVEY OF REGISTERED VOTERS
2021
Probability-Based Sample Provided by: Nielsen Scarborough
Field Dates: September 17 – October 1, 2020
Sample Size: Full Sample: 4,828 Registered VotersSample A: 2,415 Sample B: 2,413
Margin of Error: +/- 1.4% (Full Sample)+/- 2.0% (½ Sample A, B)
Weighted by age, income, gender, ethnicity, education, geographic location and party affiliation.
Methodology
Assessing Priorities
83
70
100
72
91
50
72
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
38
49
100
48
21
69
44
We have a responsibility to improve the conditions of thousands of people who are suffering from the negative health effects of poor air quality. Government research has shown that every dollar invested in cleaning up the air produces $30 in benefits from reduced health costs and more productivity.
There’s already legislation in place that has improved air quality and will continue to do so. Over the last 50 years, there was a 75% reduction in pollution. Meanwhile, the government keeps moving the goal posts and imposing new regulations, which hurts the economy and costs jobs.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Reducing Air PollutionARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST
P Convincing P Convincing
63
39
44
74
16
47
26
35
37
24
38
31
10
22
16
39
18
5
0
3
7
3
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
Very High LowSomewhat High
How high a priority should it be for the government to work to reduce the air pollution that has negative effects on health?
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
0
Not at All
2
1
Reducing Air Pollution PRIORITY
85
69
100
77
96
49
75
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
36
48
100
50
20
69
43
Most climate scientists agree greenhouse gases contribute to climate change and pose major threats. Without action, analysts predict these changes will cause the US economy to contract by several percent. Taking action now will benefit the economy by increasing energy efficiency. .
Some scientists question the degree of climate change and whether the risks warrant major action. We should continue to research the issue, but it’s premature to take economically costly steps to change the way we produce energy.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Reducing Greenhouse GasesARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST
P Convincing P Convincing
84
68
100
76
93
52
75
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
39
52
100
52
21
69
44
There are many good reasons for the US to invest in clean energy. Cleaner air brings down health costs and has created far more jobs than coal, oil and gas combined. The world is moving to cleaner energy and the US should be ahead of the curve, not dragging behind.
The effort to reduce CO2 will create an expanded role for government with new rules for businesses, which can slow the economy. If people want to reduce greenhouse gases, they can demand that companies from which they buy products change their ways.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Reducing Greenhouse GasesARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST
P Convincing P Convincing
How high a priority should it be should be for the government to work to further reduce greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide?
65
40
44
80
18
50
21
26
35
18
27
24
10
24
15
40
18
4
10
0
7
15
7
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
Very High LowSomewhat High
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Not at All
2 0
Reducing Greenhouse Gases PRIORITY
43
56
34
58
39
52
42
65
>$150k
<$30k
65+
18-34
Men
Women
White
Non-White
RACE
AGE
INCOME
Reducing Greenhouse Gases
Very / Somewhat High Priority
Support Among Republicans
GENDER
Green Banks
Most banks and investors don’t get involved in small projects that are not worth their time and don’t have the expertise to know which clean energy or energy efficiency projects are a good investment.
Green banks:
• Provide low interest loans not offered by ordinary banks
• Many green banks have been created with government funds at the state and local level and they have been self-sustaining
• Create local jobs and stimulate US domestic manufacturing
Green BanksBRIEFING
The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.
Green BanksPROPOSAL
Source of Proposal:National Climate Bank Act (116th Congress)
Sen. Edward Markey & Sen. Chris Van Hollen (S. 2057)& Rep. Debbie Dingell (H.R. 5416*)
*Resubmitted in 117th Congress: Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act (H.R. 806)
80
68
73
93
48
72
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
P Convincing
Investing taxpayer money in potentially risky and complex projects is not the kind of thing that governments should do. If there are viable business prospects, the private market will figure it out without having to put taxpayer’s money at risk.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Green BanksARGUMENT IN FAVOR
40
51
48
25
72
47
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
P Convincing
ARGUMENT AGAINST
Green banks are a great way to kick-start investment in clean energy. A national green bank will boost the whole green bank effort to a new level that is needed to meet the demand for clean energy. It’s a small investment that will grow over time, producing clean energy, and creating good jobs.
7758
68
9236
67
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
P FAVOR
The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Green Banks FINALRECOMMENDATION
7567
6268
65636566
7075
62656564
77
7261
7987
62
Advanced DegreeBachelor's Degree
Some CollegeHigh School or Less
>$150k$100-150k$75-100k$50-75k$30-50k
<$30k
65+55-6445-5435-4418-34
WomenMen
HispanicBlackWhiteRACE
GENDER
AGE
INCOME
EDUCATION
The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.
Green Banks FINALRECOMMENDATION
P FAVOR
11
12
13
7
12
10
70
53
63
88
35
63
81
65
76
95
47
73
Very Blue
Very Red
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
National
Tolerable(5)
Acceptable(6-10)
Assessment of Acceptability
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
Green Banks ASSESSMENT
4347
4649
4160
4147
5548
56
4563
>$150k$100-150k$75-100k$50-75k$30-50k
<$30k
65+55-6445-5435-4418-34
WhiteNon-WhiteRACE
AGE
INCOME
The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.
Green Banks
Tolerable + Acceptable
Support Among Republicans