PEOPLE WANT SUN

New Poll: 9 out of 10 Americans Support Solar, Across Political Spectrum; Survey by Kelton Research finds continued widespread public support for development of solar energy, federal incentives for solar, across political spectrum.
November 1, 2011 (Solar Industries Energy Association)

"Americans overwhelmingly support the use and development of solar energy as well as federal investments for solar, according to a new national poll…in the 2011 SCHOTT Solar Barometer(TM)…by independent polling firm Kelton Research…For the fourth consecutive year…about nine out of 10 Americans (89 percent) think it is important for the United States to develop and use solar energy…with 80 percent of Republicans, 90 percent of Independents and 94 percent of Democrats agreeing…

"The survey also found that…[m]ore than eight out of 10 Americans (82 percent) support federal tax credits and grants for the solar industry similar to those that traditional sources of energy like oil, natural gas and coal have received for decades. Seventy-one percent of Republicans agree, as well as 82 percent of Independents and 87 percent of Democrats."

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"…[W]hen asked to select an energy source they would financially support if they were in charge of U.S. energy policy, 39 percent of Americans chose solar over other sources such as natural gas (21 percent), wind (12 percent), nuclear (9 percent) and coal (3 percent). Among Independents, solar is more than twice as popular as any other energy source (43 percent for solar compared to 20 percent for natural gas)…

"Despite weeks of news coverage about the bankruptcy of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra…the vast majority of Americans support solar manufacturing in the United States. Eight out of 10 (82 percent) think it is important for the federal government to support U.S. solar manufacturing…"