Support for the Renewable Electricity Standard

Renewable energy works for all of us. 

The national Renewable Electricity Standard has generated a broad range of support over the years.  Already 29 states, plus the District of Columbia and a number of city-owned utilities, have adopted similar standards.  Voters in Colorado, Washington, and Missouri approved renewable standards directly, in ballot initiatives.  Polls consistently show support of 80 percent or more of respondents for renewable energy.

 

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Sign-on Letters and Resolutions

Agriculture groups sign on to letter demanding a national Renewable Electricity Standard

American Forest & Paper Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Steelworkers, & Sierra Club

Letter of support for a national RES signed by American Forest & Paper Association, Union of Concerned Scientists, United Steel Workers, and Sierra Club, May 5, 2009.

 

Union of Concerned Scientists and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE)

Letter of support for a national RES signed by over 3200 community leaders, business people, and concerned citizens in the South, April 1, 2009.

 

Utilities, Environmental Groups, Manufacturers and Wind Developers Support a National RES

Sign-on letter of March 24, 2009 from 220 businesses, utilities, and others.

American Public Power Association resolution

"Resolution 09-02:  In Support of a Workable Federal Renewable Electricity Standard" from the association of municipally-owned utilities, February 24, 2009.

 

Letter supporting a national RES, signed by 24 governors, February 18, 2009

 

 

Polls

 

Society for Human Resource Management/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll

Poll finds that 78% of Americans favor a renewable electricity standard

 

Zogby International, August 11, 2009 

A poll commissioned by the National Wildlife Federation found that 71% of voters support the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act, which includes a renewable electricity standard.

 

Garin Hart Yang Research Group, May 5, 2009
New Poll Shows Nationwide Bipartisan Support for Renewable Electricity Standard
American Wind Energy Association

AWEA released results of a new poll showing strong, deep bipartisan support for a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) requiring utilities to generate at least 25% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025.

Washington Post, December 21, 2008
Optimism High About Obama Policies, Poll Finds
Page A01

This national poll found that "Large majorities want Obama to pursue a wide range of issues besides the economy, including 84 percent who want him to drive an effort to require electricity companies to increase the use of renewable sources of energy. A majority, 55 percent, want him to tackle the issue right after taking office in January."

 

Public Agenda, April 3, 2009
In this national poll, "More than three-quarters (77 percent) say that investing in alternative energy is a better way to move the economy forward than drilling for fossil fuels. Some 86 percent agree that investing in alternative energy will create many new jobs (45 percent believe this strongly).

"Many say they’re willing to pay for alternative energy as well: 6 in 10 say they would pay more for electricity generated by renewable sources and half are willing to pay higher taxes to fund development of alternative energy sources. And while there’s an overall reluctance to support proposals that directly raise driving costs, 77 percent agree that electric companies should be required to use more alternative sources of energy even if that increases the cost in the short run."

 

Yale and George Mason Universities poll, October 2008
This national poll found that "72 percent supported a requirement that electric utilities produce at least 20 percent of their electricity from wind, solar, or other renewable energy sources, even if it cost the average household an extra $100 a year."


Gallup annual Environment Survey, March 5-8, 2009
77% of respondents thought the US government should increase "financial support and incentives" for alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar, while only 39% thought it should increase support for traditional sources such as oil and gas.

 

Polls have also been done recently for Ohio, Indiana, and Kansas.