Clean energy policy:PA STATE FINDINGS |
Clean energy policy:PA PRESS RELEASE |
Clean energy policy: AUDIO |
Support for energy bill from Pennsylvania small business owners
Small business owners in Pennsylvania strongly believe the country needs to move toward clean energy and that new energy policies will transform the economy and help them create new jobs. They support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation currently being discussed in the US Senate. Support for a climate and energy bill from Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey would be a winner with small business owners back home. A Public Policy Polling survey of 427 small business owners in Pennsylvania, taken between July 2nd and 6th, found that:
- 57% of small business owners support the bill being debated in Washington right now, compared to only 37% who are opposed. Majorities of business owners across party lines favor the bill. Democrats give it their support by a 77/19 margin, and Republicans do so 50/42. 50% or more of both Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business members express their support for the legislation.
- 58% of small business owners think that moving the country to clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs. That sentiment is shared by 76% of Democratic business owners and 51% of Republican ones. Owners of businesses with fewer than 10 employees are particularly optimistic that a shift in energy sources will help spur job creation.
- 62% of business owners think America should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy, while just 22% think the country should keep subsidizing oil companies.
- 56% of small business owners agree that adopting new energy policies will transform the economy and want their businesses to be part of the revitalization, compared with 38% who don’t.
- Small business owner support for the bill will increase even further if it includes several tools to help them take advantage of new developments in clean energy. This includes interest-free loans to help them make energy efficiency upgrades, free energy audits to help them learn how to reduce usage and save money, and consultation on how they can profit from the emerging clean energy industry.