New Poll of Small Business Owners

Reveals Strong Bipartisan Support for Clean, Safe Energy, Including Measures in Obama’s Climate Plans

Large Majorities in Both Parties Want Increased Limits on Carbon Emissions, Energy Efficiency, Disclosure of Chemicals Used in Fracking and More

To view the full survey results, visit: http://bit.ly/ASBCEnergyEnvironmentPollReport

June 27, 2013, Washington, D.C. – A national, scientific poll shows that small business owners across party lines, support safer, cleaner, more efficient and renewable energy. The poll, which asked a range of energy and environment questions, including some in President Obama’s climate proposals announced this week, was commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), a business policy group of which the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce is a member.

 Frank Knapp Jr, President and CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce (SCSBCC) and Chairman of the ASBC Action Fund said, “This poll reaffirms what the SCSBCC has been saying for many years.  We need to protect our small business tourism industry from rising sea levels that will put coastal business communities like Cherry Grove and Folly Beach underwater, flood much of Charleston and wash away most of the state’s beaches.  The solution is to transition our country to a clean energy economy that dramatically cuts carbon emissions since they lead to climate change and rising sea levels.”

Richard Eidlin, Director of Public Policy for ASBC said, “Large majorities of small business owners want the country to focus on energy development that is clean and renewable. Whether Republican, Democratic or Independent, they want the government to promote energy efficiency and clean technologies and don’t want our tax dollars to continue subsidizing coal, oil and gas.”

 The poll, conducted by Lake Research, was designed to gauge opinions on several policy issues currently under consideration in states and in Washington, DC. The telephone survey included 47% Republican, 14% Independent and 27% Democratic business owners.

Key findings from the survey are:
--79% of small business owners support increasing energy efficiency by 50% over next ten years.
--72% of small business owners think incentives for clean energy are a priority.
--63% of small business owners support EPA efforts to limit carbon dioxide emissions of power plants.
--62% of small business owners oppose continuing subsidies to oil, gas and coal companies.
--63% of small business owners support a national renewable energy standard.
--57% of small business owners want banks and other investors to include environmental benefits in business investment decisions.
--80% of small business owners support requiring disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

 

ASBC is collecting signatures of small business owners in support of the climate declaration, launched recently by BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) and signed by 150 larger companies, including General Motors Co., Unilever, IKEA, Stonyfield Farm and more than 100 ski areas. The declaration calls on U.S. policymakers to capture the economic opportunities of addressing climate change. It can be found here: http://asbcouncil.org/campaigns/sign-climate-change-declaration-today

To view the full survey results, visit: http://bit.ly/ASBCEnergyEnvironmentPollReport

 Poll results represent findings from a scientific national phone survey of owners of small businesses (with 2 to 99 employees), commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council and conducted by Lake Research Partners. The nationwide live phone survey was conducted between March 14-25, 2013. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.

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The American Sustainable Business Council and its member organizations represent more than 165,000 businesses nationwide, and more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and investors. The council includes chambers of commerce, trade associations, and groups representing small business, investors, microenterprise, social enterprise, green and sustainable business, local living economy, and women and minority business leaders. ASBC informs and engages policy makers and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant and sustainable economy. www.asbcouncil.org