On May 14, EDF-Action released a new poll finding an overwhelming 79 percent of Pennsylvania voters support placing a limit on carbon pollution from Pennsylvania’s power plants that would decline over time to ensure the Commonwealth’s electricity supply becomes carbon-free.

The poll, conducted by Global Strategy Group and commissioned by EDF Action, found majorities across all demographics supporting the proposal to limit carbon pollution, including 66 percent of Republicans and 79 percent of rural voters.

It also found proposals to bail out the state’s nuclear industry were deeply unpopular, with 64 percent opposing policies to require effectively half of Pennsylvania’s electricity come from nuclear power.

When asked to choose between the two proposals, voters overwhelming supported the proposal to limit carbon pollution (71 to 29 percent). Support for carbon limits over a nuclear bailout remained strong among likely voters even after a simulated debate exposed voters to opposition messaging.  

Importantly, the poll found Pennsylvania lawmakers who took strong action on the climate crisis were viewed much more favorably.

After a simulated debate, a candidate in support of regulations to limit carbon enjoyed a 10-point increase in support over a candidate in opposition. Increased support was driven particularly by center-right voters and women, while lawmakers opposed to climate action were viewed more negatively.

“Gov. Wolf and legislators have a powerful opportunity to deliver on behalf of Pennsylvanians who overwhelmingly support setting a limit on carbon pollution from the power sector, the single largest source of climate pollution in the state,” said Andrew Williams, Director, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, EDF Action. “This is the type of commonsense strategy that voters understand will deliver results. Pollution limits improve health and environmental outcomes, and can be implemented through flexible market-based programs that will increase investment in cleaner, zero-emission sources of electricity such as solar and wind.”  

The poll follows Gov. Wolf’s recent announcement that Pennsylvania will join the U.S. Climate Alliance, where he also said he would take a “serious look” at the state joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a market-based system that reduces carbon pollution from power plants in nine northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

Global Strategy Group conducted a voter-file matched online survey from March 19-26, 2019 with 1,201 likely 2020 general election voters in Pennsylvania.

Questions about the proposal to place a limit on carbon emissions from power plants were asked of a half sample of 601 likely voters. Care was taken to ensure the political, geographic, and demographic divisions of the expected electorate were properly represented based on historical turnout.

Click Here for a copy of the poll results.

NewsClips:

Cusick: Poll Finds Most Pennsylvanians Think Climate Change Is Major Public Health Risk

Auditor General Calls For PA To Act On Climate Change

How A Climate Science Pioneer Is Making History At Penn State Once Again

WITF Smart Talk: Cusick: Confronting Climate Change

Op-Ed: Saving The Chesapeake Bay, Fighting Climate Change, 2 Sides Of The Same Coin - Will Baker, CBF

Op-Ed: The Motivations For Climate Change Denial

Op-Ed: Fight To Preserve Nuclear Energy In PA Isn’t Over - Rep. Mehaffie

Op-Ed: Proposed Legislation Would Save PA Nuclear Power Jobs

Editorial: Nuclear Energy Makes Its Own Money

Op-Ed: Why Gov. Wolf’s Methane Reduction Plan Doesn’t Go Far Enough

Editorial: We Must Keep Battling, Urging Lawmakers To Save Our Fragile Earth

New Coalition Of Over A Dozen Companies, Environmental Groups Pushing For Congress To Put A Price On Carbon

PG&E, Dominion, 11 Other Major Companies Push Carbon Tax In New Climate Initiative

Op-Ed: It’s Not The Green New Deal Or Nothing At All

Trump Calls Green New Deal Climate/Energy Plan A Hoax That Might Be Bigger Than Russia Probe

U.S. Interior Secretary: I Haven’t Lost Any Sleep Over Climate Change

Arctic Temps Soar As Carbon Dioxide Hits Highest Level In Human History

Related Stories This Week:

Muhlenberg Public Health Poll: 51% Say Climate Change Poses Major Risk To Public Health In PA, Radon 43%, Fracking 38%

Auditor General DePasquale Calls For PA To Act On Climate Change To Save Lives, Prepare For Higher Costs, Particularly For Water Infrastructure

Watershed Congress Presentation: Impacts Of Climate Change On PA State Parks, Forests

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Related Stories:

Gov. Wolf, Legislators Announce New Climate Action Plan, Including Endorsing Cap-And-Trade For Power Generation, Keeping Nuclear Power Plants Open

Senate/House Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bills To Transition State To 100% Renewable Energy By 2050

Senators Ask Colleagues To Sign On To Bipartisan Bill To Increase Renewable Energy Purchases By Utilities From 8% to 30% By 2030

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House Hearing: Nuclear Bill Worst Of All Worlds For Ratepayers; Won’t Do Anything To Save TMI

[Posted: May 14, 2019]

5/20/2019