Presentation is loading. Please wait.

Presentation is loading. Please wait.

March, 2010 Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado Survey Results.

Similar presentations


Presentation on theme: "March, 2010 Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado Survey Results."— Presentation transcript:

1 March, 2010 Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado Survey Results

2 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 2 | Survey Methodology  Live telephone interviews among Colorado likely voters, conducted February 11 – 16, 2010  500 respondents  Survey results are subject to a +/- 4.4 percent margin of error

3 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 3 | Key Findings  Voters want to see action from Congress on energy reform.  An energy reform bill that includes carbon pricing is popular among Colorado voters.  Majorities believe at the outset that the energy reform bill will help the economy, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign energy.  Proponents of energy reform must to win the economic debate—which we CAN, but it is a key battleground on which we have to fight.  After a balanced debate support for the energy bill holds with 55 – 41 percent in favor.  The biggest challenge to energy reform is with the public’s concerns about government, not concerns about specific energy policies.

4 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 4 | Political Landscape

5 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 5 | Republicans and Independents Think the Country is on the Wrong Track Generally speaking, do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? 33 63 Partisan Fault Lines: Country Direction

6 March, 2010 Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of how each person is handling their job? Voters Divided on Obama and Bennet

7 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 7 | Bennet and Norton Virtually Even in Race for Senate, But Support is Soft for Both Candidates Thinking about the election for U.S. Senate in November 2010, if the candidates were Democrat Michael Bennet and Republican Jane Norton – for whom would you vote, Democrat Michael Bennet or Republican Jane Norton? 45 46

8 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 8 | Public Support for Energy Reform

9 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 9 | Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 9 | Legislation to Reform Energy and Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil High on List of Priorities for Congress Now I'm going to read you a list of issues. For each one, please tell me how important is it for congress and the president to pass legislation on the following issues in the next six months: Is it very important, somewhat important, a little important or not at all important? Legislation to…

10 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 10 | Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 10 | Majorities Across the Political Spectrum Think Energy Reform is a Priority Legislation to reform our energy policy and cut our dependence on foreign oil Legislation to reform our energy policy and create clean energy jobs

11 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 11 | Energy Reform Bill Has Majority Support in Colorado Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. 56 41 This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal.

12 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 12 | Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal. Unusual Coalition Drives Support for Energy Reform Independent Fault Line

13 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 13 | Energy Reform Bill Strong in Denver Metro and Swing Suburban Areas Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal.

14 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 14 | Majority of Voters Believe the Energy Reform Bill Will Help the Economy and Create Jobs From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will help the economy in Colorado or hurt the economy in Colorado? 51 40 From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will help the economy in Colorado or hurt the economy in Colorado? 55 38

15 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 15 | Overwhelming Majority Believes It Will Cut Dependence From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will reduce our dependence on foreign energy or increase our dependence on foreign energy? 63 25 Partisan Fault Lines: Total Reduce vs. Increase

16 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 16 | Energy Reform Prevails on Key Debate Points

17 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 17 | Voters Come Down on the Side of Change I’m more concerned that our current energy policy is unacceptable, and we need to change direction. OR | I’m more concerned that this bill will take us in the wrong direction and will make our energy problems worse Now I’m going to read you some pairs of statements about the energy bill being debated by Congress. After I read each pair, please tell me which statement you agree with more.

18 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 18 | Arguments That the Bill Will Kill Jobs Don’t Stand Up to the Idea of Recharging the Economy or Cutting Foreign Oil We spend a billion dollars a day on foreign oil. This bill reduces our dependence on foreign oil, so we invest that money here instead of continuing to send it overseas. It puts America back in control of its own energy situation and creates clean energy jobs and industries right here in America. OR | Colorado relies on its oil and gas for electricity and jobs. This bill will make oil and gas too expensive to produce, destroying local industries, putting thousands of people in Colorado out of work and damaging the entire state's economy. This proposal will help recharge Colorado's economy, and allow Colorado to become a leader in clean, alternative energy. Colorado can take the lead to produce new energy, build businesses and create American jobs. Experts say this proposal will create thirty-thousand Colorado jobs that can't be outsourced. OR | This bill constitutes a huge expansion of government control over American business, just when government is already taking over banks, auto companies, and other parts of our economy, including health care. We cannot afford more government regulation in our energy policy. OR | This bill is a job killer. It will cost America millions of jobs, including three million manufacturing jobs in the next two decades. It will make it harder for Colorado’s businesses to succeed by adding unnecessary regulations and higher energy costs, something we cannot afford right now.

19 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 19 | Energy Reform Bill Prevails in the Economic Debate – both in terms of the National Economy and the Local Economy Colorado is a leader in innovative new technologies, and we are positioned to be one of the leading centers for clean energy technology, including solar, wind and natural gas. This bill will accelerate the creation of new American jobs and keep Colorado at the forefront of this emerging industry. OR | Colorado relies on its oil and gas for electricity and jobs. This bill will make oil and gas too expensive to produce, destroying local industries, putting thousands of people in Colorado out of work and damaging the entire state's economy. Ensuring that the U.S. provides incentives for clean energy will ensure that America doesn’t lose jobs in clean energy industries to countries like India and China. By leading the world in the critical new industry of our time, we can create millions of new American jobs. OR | This bill constitutes a huge expansion of government control over American business, just when government is already taking over banks, auto companies, and other parts of our economy, including health care. We cannot afford more government regulation in our energy policy.

20 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 20 | Most Voters Agree that Short Term Costs are Worth the Long Term Benefits This bill may have short term costs, but given that energy prices keep going up, it is something we need to do for the long-term to create new jobs reduce our dependence on foreign oil. OR | At a time of high unemployment, this bill will cost families too much now and hurt our economy in the long-term and we should not do it. Total Independents

21 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 21 | Energy Reform Holds Its Own on Costs and Economic Concerns

22 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 22 | Bill Proponents Hold Their Own on Costs and Taxes With the technology we already have today, we can do this for modest costs, about fifteen dollars a month per family. This is a short term cost that is well worth the long term benefits of changing our energy policies to get American running on clean energy and save money on energy our costs down the road. OR | This is a giant spending proposal paid for by a hidden energy tax that will raise the cost of gasoline and electricity on Colorado families by three thousand dollars per year. People who are already struggling will pay more in higher utility costs and gas prices every time they flip a switch or put gas in their car. Total Independents

23 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 23 | Most Voters Still Come Down on the Side of Change Despite Recession Concerns This is the right time to reform our energy policy because it will boost economic growth to help us out of recession. OR | This is the wrong time to reform our energy policy because the costs would be too high to bear in the middle of a recession.

24 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 24 | Challenges Remain, But Support for Energy Reform Holds Up

25 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 25 | An Appeal for More and Broader Domestic Energy Production Remains a Strong Debate Point We spend a billion dollars a day on foreign oil. This bill reduces our dependence on foreign oil, so we invest that money here instead of continuing to send it overseas. It puts America back in control of its own energy situation and creates clean energy jobs and industries right here in America. OR | The best way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil is to explore for more sources of energy here in America. That means more alternatives, but also more domestic oil production, more natural gas and more nuclear energy. And we should NOT heavily tax coal which is our cheapest, most abundant source of energy Total Independents

26 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 26 | Public Concern about Congress and Government Performance Holds People Back from Embracing Reform OR | We should not pass energy reform this year because Congress is already doing too much big government spending and we need to get the deficit under control. OR | Congress is already taking on too many other issues, like healthcare, and should focus on the economy and jobs instead of taking on energy reform this year. We should pass energy reform this year because we need to get America running on clean energy and create good clean energy jobs.

27 March, 2010 Economic Can’t afford it right now / Too costly Will kill jobs / increase unemployment Will raise taxes Will harm the economy Anti-Government Government takeover / expansion of government Don’t trust the government *Will sum to more than 100% However, Economic and Cost Concerns Dominate Opposition From what you heard, what stood out as the best reason to OPPOSE the energy bill? Types of Responses

28 March, 2010 Economic Will create jobs Helps the economy Put Colorado at the forefront of technology Reduce Dependence / Clean Energy Reduce dependence on foreign oil Energy independence Take control of our energy *Will sum to more than 100% Economic Benefits and Reduced Dependence through Alternatives Top of Mind of Those in Favor From what you heard, what stood out as the best reason to FAVOR the energy bill? Types of Responses

29 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 29 | Support for Energy Reform Bill Holds After Vigorous Debate Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. Total Independents

30 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 30 | Energy Reform and the 2010 Colorado Senate Race

31 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 31 | Bennet Competitive in Most Areas of the State Thinking about the election for U.S. Senate in November 2010, if the candidates were Democrat Michael Bennet and Republican Jane Norton – for whom would you vote, Democrat Michael Bennet or Republican Jane Norton?

32 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 32 | More Voters Prefer that Bennet Vote for Energy Reform From what you just heard, if your Senator voted FOR this energy legislation, would that make you -- more likely to re-elect your senator, or less likely to re-elect your senator? From what you just heard, if your Senator voted AGAINST this energy legislation, would that make you -- more likely to re-elect your senator, or less likely to re-elect your senator?

33 March, 2010 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 33 | www.greenbergresearch.comWashington, DC 10 G Street NE, Suite 500 Washington, DC 20002 Ph: +1 202 478 8300 Fax: +1 202 478 8301 California 388 Market Street Suite 860 San Francisco, CA 94111 Ph: +1 415 986 9100 Fax: +1 415 986 9101 London, UK 405 Carrington House, 6 Hertford Street London, UK W1J 7SU Ph: +44 (0) 207 499 5204 Fax: +44 (0) 207 499 5284


Download ppt "March, 2010 Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado Survey Results."

Similar presentations


Ads by Google