SURVEY KEY FINDINGS 1. Overwhelming majorities of Michigan voters, regardless of political affiliation, support the state requiring more electricity be produced from renewable energy sources and nearly as many support tax incentives to enable them to do so. The survey of state voters found consistent and strong support for the state increasing requirements on electric utilities in how they produce electricity. As seen below, fully 84 percent of Michigan voters indicate support for requiring that at least 20 percent of our electricity come from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower energy by the year 2022. The intensity of support is also significant as three- in- five voters strongly support such a requirement. Require RPS of 20 percent by 2020 Support is broad- based and wide- spread. This view is shared by 70 percent of Republicans, 85 percent of independents, and nearly all (95 percent) Democrats. In fact, a majority of self- described Tea Party supporters indicates support for this requirement (56 percent). In addition, the overwhelming majority of voters in every region of the state and of every demographic sub- group register support. Similarly, 78 percent of the electorate support providing tax incentives to encourage electric utilities to transition away from coal and ensure more of our electricity comes from renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydropower energy. Again, support for the tax incentive is evident across the partisan spectrum. Page 1
In fact, voters say if it were up to them Michigan would produce fully 62 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources an even higher percentage than when asked two years ago. 2. In addition, Michigan voters support the current energy efficiency programs and nine- in- ten want to expand these programs. Given voters lack of familiarity with these types of programs we provided a brief, neutral explanation for the current energy efficiency program that specifically indicates that it is funded through a fee on every electricity bill. 1 Fully 77 percent indicate support for the current law (40 percent strongly support it). Just one- in- five register opposition. What is perhaps more impressive is the level of support for expanding the program. A stunning nine- in- ten support expanding these programs, as seen here. Expand Energy Efficiency Program Voters in every region of the state and of all demographic sub- groups support expanding the energy efficiency program, including Democrats (95 percent), Independents (85 percent), and Republicans (70 percent); Self- described Tea Party supporters (78 percent); Voters in the Detroit (91 percent), Flint (91 percent) and Grand Rapids (87 percent) regions of the state; African Americans (100 percent) and white voters (89 percent); Women (90 percent) and men (89 percent); More than 85 percent of voters in every age group, including 88 percent of seniors; and More than 84 percent of voters in every income category, including 92 percent of the lowest income respondents reporting less than $40,000 in household income. 1 There is a law that requires Michigan s utilities to provide more programs through which customers can reduce energy waste and make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes and businesses. The program has been financed since 2008 through a fee on every electricity bill that averages one dollar and fifty cents per month for most residents. 2015 Michigan Energy Survey Key Findings Page 2
Some of this support for expanding energy efficiency programs is clearly due to a desire to personally take advantage of the benefits they can provide. Fully 87 percent say they would be very interested in incentives to make their homes more energy efficient. 3. Michigan voters view policies to increase use of renewable energy and energy efficiency as a catalyst for new jobs and a way to reduce energy costs over time. More than three- in- five voters in the state say that increasing the use of renewable energy or energy efficiency projects will create jobs as seen here: Perceived Impact on Jobs in Michigan Perhaps, even more significant is that voters forecast reduced energy costs as a result of these actions. By a two- to- one margin, voters say that increasing the use of renewable energy will reduce long- term energy costs (48 percent), rather than increase them (25 percent). Even more overwhelming is the view that energy efficiency will reduce long- term energy costs (73 percent) rather than increase them (11 percent). 4. Michigan voters also clearly demonstrate a sense of responsibility to make these changes in energy use. Some of the greatest consensus in the survey results is centered on a sense of responsibility even when framed as moral responsibility to move forward with these policies. 91 percent agree that we have a moral responsibility to future generations to continue to transition to cleaner sources of energy and reduce our energy waste. 95 percent agree that we all have a responsibility to use only what we need and reduce energy waste. Page 3
5. Voters overwhelmingly side with the rationales in support of these energy policies and reject opponents arguments. We tested competing rationales against these policies with a consistent pro- statement in support. In both cases, Michigan voters side with supporters by more than a two- to- one margin, as one can see in the results on the following page. It is worth noting that Republicans, Independents and Democrats are all more likely to side with the supporters viewpoint about Michigan s energy policies than with opponents, no matter which argument they heard. Which One Comes Closer to Your View About Michigan s Energy Policies? 6. Voters will back elected officials who demonstrate support for renewable energy policy and are less likely to vote for those who want to stop requirements in these areas. A significant 70 percent of the state s voters indicate they would be more likely to vote for an elected official if he or she supports increasing the use of renewable energy. Conversely, this issue can be a turn- off for voters, as two- thirds are less supportive of an elected official whose votes demonstrate they want to Page 4
continue to rely on traditional sources of energy (66 percent less likely), or who wants to roll back state laws for clean energy and increasing energy efficiency (49 percent less likely). Vote Impact of Positions Elected Officials Take on Energy Policies This holds true across party lines, as majorities of GOP voters (57 percent), independents (70 percent) and Democrats (83 percent) say they would be more likely to vote for an elected official who supports greater use of renewable energy. Voters want state leaders to prioritize job creation in considering energy policy in the state. Prior to having heard any specific questions about policies, respondents were asked which one of these four should be the most important priority for state leaders to consider for the state s energy policy. Interestingly, reining in energy costs is lowest of the four: Predictably, health is the top priority among the 31 percent of the electorate which tells us someone in their immediate household has asthma, lung disease or other respiratory problems. Page 5
Overall, the survey clearly demonstrates support for continued leadership in transitioning Michigan away from traditional sources of energy and toward greater use of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency. Voters are not willing to stop action in this area, and believe the state should continue with even bolder energy policies such as a requirement that utilities produce 20 percent of the state s electricity from renewable sources by the year 2022. This is true across all demographic sub- groups, throughout the state, and across the political spectrum. Michigan voters are more likely to vote for an elected official who supports such policies and less likely to vote for one who wants to roll back state laws or even maintain the status quo. Voters also reject arguments against these proposals and overwhelmingly side with supporters of continued renewable energy use and increased energy efficiency over arguments from critics. The electorate clearly connects increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy with a thriving economy and the creation of new jobs in the state exactly what they tell us should be most important priority for state leaders when they consider energy policy in the state. They also say that these policies will benefit them personally by reducing long- term energy costs in Michigan. Finally, while voters see some self- benefit as they overwhelmingly want to take advantage of incentives to upgrade energy efficiency in their homes, they also view this issue from a broader scale. Voters tell us they view it as a moral responsibility to undertake these changes in energy policy that will benefit future generations. METHODOLOGY: From March 5-9, 2015, Public Opinion Strategies completed 550 telephone interviews with registered voters throughout the state of Michigan on both cell and landline phones. The sample was distributed proportionally by county, and is representative of the state s electorate. The margin of sampling error for the full statewide sample is +/- 4.2 percent; margins of error for subgroups within the sample will be larger. This memo contains comparisons to a 2013 statewide survey. Public Opinion Strategies is the largest Republican polling firm in the country. Since our founding in 1991, we have completed more than 10,000 research projects, interviewing more than six million Americans across the United States, and conducting more than 3,000 focus groups. Public Opinion Strategies research is well respected, which is why prestigious media outlets such as NBC News, The Wall Street Journal, and CNBC rely on us to conduct their polling. Page 6