Energy-Geek: eighty% of Independent Voters ( Bulk of Americans) Opposed to Fossil Fuel Subsidies

Thursday, February 16, 2012

eighty% of Independent Voters ( Bulk of Americans) Opposed to Fossil Fuel Subsidies

President Obama, in his latest price range proposal, has named to repeal much more than $ four billion a year in subsidies for the fossil fuel industry, arguing that these “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies… impede expense in cleanse electricity sources and undermine efforts to deal with the menace of climate alter.” And it turns out that a big proportion of the American populace is with him.

In the Community Assistance for Local weather & Electricity Policies in November 2011 report, Yale scientists found that 70% of People in america opposed federal subsidies for the fossil gas industry, including good majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. Interestingly, independent voters are most opposed to these subsidies.

Here are the highlights from the report:

Concern

70 percent of Us residents say worldwide warming ought to be a very higher (12%), high (25%), or medium (33%) concern for the president and Congress, which includes 44 percent of registered Republicans, 72 percent of Independents and 85 percent of Democrats.

90 percent of Americans say creating sources of thoroughly clean power should be a very high (thirty%), substantial (35%), or medium (twenty five%) concern for the president and Congress, which includes 82 percent of registered Republicans, 91 percent of Independents, and 97 % of Democrats.

54 percent of Us citizens say that a candidate’s views on international warming will be either the “single most important issue” (2%) or “one of numerous important issues” (52%) in deciding their vote for President up coming year, like 39 percent of registered Republicans, 55 percent of Independents, and 65 percent of Democrats.

Earnings Neutral Carbon Taxes

65 percent of Americans help a revenue neutral carbon tax that would “help develop employment and lower pollution,” which includes majorities of registered Republicans (51%), Independents (69%), and Democrats (77%).

Likewise, 60 percent of Us citizens assistance a $ ten for every ton carbon tax if the revenue had been employed to decrease federal cash flow taxes, even when advised this would “slightly improve the expense of numerous issues you get, which includes food, clothes, and electricity.” This plan is supported by 48 percent of registered Republicans, 50 % of Independents, and 74 % of Democrats.

49 percent of People in america assist a earnings neutral carbon tax if the earnings was rather returned to each American household equally as an annual verify. Only 44 percent assist this plan if the revenues ended up as an alternative used to shell out down the countrywide credit card debt.

Opposition to Subsidies

69 percent of Us citizens oppose federal subsidies to the fossil gas business, which includes 67 % of registered Republicans, eighty percent of Independents, and 68 % of Democrats.

54 percent of People in america oppose subsidies to the ethanol business to make gas from corn, like 56 % of registered Republicans, 65 % of Independents, and 49 percent of Democrats.

Assistance for Other Policies

Public assistance stays higher for regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant (73%), signing an global treaty to minimize emissions (66%), and requiring electric utilities to produce at minimum twenty% of their electricity from renewable power resources, even if it costs the average household an added $ 100 a calendar year.

Given that May of 2011, there has been a decline in “strong support” for research into renewable power sources (-9), tax rebates for men and women who obtain energy-efficient automobiles or photo voltaic panels (-11), and creating more nuclear power plants (-5). Nevertheless, overall public help (firmly and considerably help) for the initial two policies remains higher (78% every). All round public assist for nuclear power now stands at 42 %.

Action

In spite of ongoing concerns about the market, 66 percent of People in america say the U.S. ought to undertake a big (26%) or medium-scale work (forty%) to minimize world-wide warming, even if it has huge or reasonable financial fees.

85 percent of People in america (including 76% of registered Republicans, 83% of Independents, and ninety% of Democrats) say that defending the surroundings either improves economic expansion and offers new work (54%), or has no effect (31%). Only fifteen % say environmental safety reduces economic progress and charges work.

Supply: Manifeste Help for Weather & Power Policies in November 2011

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