Poll Released to Coincide with National Clean Energy Week
Conservatives for Clean Energy-Florida (CCE-Florida) today released results of a statewide energy poll, which demonstrates strong support for clean energy throughout the state. The poll was released during National Clean Energy Week, a celebration of clean energy innovation throughout the country. This is the second annual poll commissioned by CCE-Florida. Favorability for clean energy has been consistent across the two surveys.
Among the key takeaways, respondents overwhelmingly agreed that Florida should pursue an “all of the above” energy strategy to reduce the state’s dependence on carbon-based energy. The respondents also expressed interest in expanding Florida’s solar energy production as part of that strategy.
“The polling numbers show that more and more Floridians understand the varied economic and environmental benefits of clean energy,” said George Riley, executive director of CCE-Florida. “These are the same individuals that have the capability to make waves at the ballot box this fall as they consider the importance of energy to their personal lives.”
The poll found that support for the general concept of “all of the above” energy also bridged partisan divides. This general favorability also carried through to specific energy policies like net metering for solar energy users. For example, 77% of respondents supported the concept of net metering to give solar energy users a billing credit based on the net volume of power that a ratepayer’s solar panels feed back into the power grid.
There was also a strong indication that clean energy may affect which candidates Florida voters would support in November. 73% of respondents said that they would be more likely to vote for a political candidate that supported increasing the development and use of renewable energy resources like solar energy. This support went across party lines. 80% of self-described moderates and 53% percent of self-described conservatives said they were more likely to support a candidate that supported clean energy.
Conservatives for Clean Energy is the southeast affiliate of the Conservative Energy Network (CEN), a 21-state coalition working to advance conservative clean energy policy solutions.
Methodology
DataTargeting completed the telephone survey of 802 registered Florida voters. The survey was conducted August 31-September 5, 2020 by live interviewers who spoke to respondents on both landlines and cell phones. Results are weighted to current voter registrations by age, race, gender, party, and media market and have a margin of error of +/- 3.5% within a 95% confidence interval.
About Conservatives for Clean Energy Florida: CCE-Florida works to educate conservative leaders on the economic benefits of clean energy and its positive impact to the state. Learn more at https://www.cleanenergyconservatives.com.
About the Conservative Energy Network: Formed in 2016, the Conservative Energy Network (CEN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit coalition of 21 state-based conservative clean energy organizations advancing policy solutions that emphasize market competition, consumer choice, and innovation. Learn more at https://conservativeenergynetwork.org.
