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
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
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
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