CLEAN

ENERGY POLLING IN THE MIDWEST 2012

Do you support?

drilling and digging for more oil, natural gas and coal wherever we can find it in the U.S. OR reducing our need for oil, natural gas and coal by increasing energy efficiency and expanding our use of clean renewable energy than can be generated in the U.S?
66% clean, renewable energy 27% drilling and digging

a candidate who wants to promote more use of clean renewable energy like wind and solar power in Minnesota, OR a candidate who wants to rely on traditional domestic sources of energy like coal, natural gas, or nuclear to meet energy needs?
68% clean, renewable energy 24% traditional domestic sources

a candidate who says developing a stable, clean and reliable energy source for Minnesota will be one of their top priorities OR a candidate that says that energy is not a very important issue in Minnesota right now and they will focus on other issues like the economy instead?
49% clean energy advocate 41% advocate on other issues

Suppose you learned that a candidate for state legislature in Minnesota had voted to weaken the laws that promote the use of clean energy and energy efficiency in the state saying they thought that weakening these laws would improve the state economy and quickly generate jobs. Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for that candidate?
37% more likely to vote for 54% less likely to vote for

KEY MESSAGES

interviews conducted Jan. 9-15, 2012 with 1,600 voters in Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Margin of Error = 2.9%.

Investing in clean energy means more than just wind and solar power. It means new clean and efficient vehicles and energy efficient equipment, technology, and infrastructure. It means creating jobs in design, manufacturing, construction and many other fields across our economy. This is the kind of bold action we need to get our economy going again. 83% support; 15% oppose We can continue our current path of increasing the use of renewable energy like wind and solar. Or we can roll back the progress we have made and return to more reliance on dirty fuels like coal. We need to continue on the path to a clean energy future. 76% support; 21% oppose Developing clean energy here in Minnesota means sending less money out of state. Over $10 billion are drained out of our states economy every year to pay for the coal, oil and other forms of energy we import from other states and countries according to the U.S. Department of Energy. 72% support; 25% oppose Our state already employs thousands of people in clean energy jobs from engineers to construction workers to port workers to administrative assistants. These are jobs that pay a living wage and many cannot be outsourced. Encouraging use of clean energy will continue to create more local jobs. 86% support; 12% oppose Generating electricity from clean energy now costs less than generating electricity from a new coal- fired power plant. Transitioning to clean energy will reduce the risk to ratepayers and lower electricity costs. 74% support; 22% oppose Polling by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz, & Associates (Democratic firm) and Public Opinion Strategies (GOP firm). Phone