Conservative Voters in Ohio Overwhelmingly Support Clean Energy Policies and Ask GOP Candidates To Do So

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1 TO: FROM: RE: Interested Parties Lori Weigel, Public Opinion Strategies Conservative Voters in Ohio Overwhelmingly Support Clean Energy Policies and Ask GOP Candidates To Do So DATE: September 16, 2016 The Republican polling firm, Public Opinion Strategies, recently completed a survey of Ohio voters who identify as Republican or conservative independents regarding energy policies in the state. 1 The survey results show that conservative voters throughout the state overwhelmingly support policies that encourage greater production of renewable energy and increasing energy efficiency, including a renewable energy standard and revising wind set- back rules to better accommodate turbine siting. Moreover, they reject surcharges to shore up existing coal and nuclear power, and attempts to erode consumer options among electricity providers. Overall, seven- in- ten conservative voters would advise GOP candidates in the state to support those policies, and say that if it were up them fully half of the state s electricity would come from renewable energy. Support may in part be due to the electorate s sense that increasing use of renewable energy will benefit jobs in Ohio. These conservative voters register positive feelings toward a range of energy sources, particularly natural gas and energy efficiency. Among the key specific findings of the survey are the following: Seven- in- ten conservative voters in Ohio (72 percent) say they would tell a Republican candidate to support policies that encourage energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy in the state. Nearly four- in- ten (39 percent) say they should definitely support those policies. As one can see illustrated in the next graph, just one- in- five (20 percent) would tell that elected official to oppose these policies. 1 Methodology: From September 6-11, 2016, Public Opinion Strategies completed 400 telephone interviews with registered voters who identify as Republican or independents who also say they are conservative or voted for Romney in Interviews were conducted on both landline and cell phones. The margin of sampling error for this statewide sample of conservative voters is +/- 4.9%. Margins of sampling error for subgroups within the sample will be larger. Some percentages may sum to more than 100% due to rounding.

2 Page 2 If you were going to give some advice to a Republican candidate here in Ohio, would you tell him or her to support or oppose policies that encourage energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy in our state? GOP women are particularly adamant that a Republican candidate should support clean energy policies, as fully 77 percent advise them to do so, compared to 67 percent of GOP men. The vast majority of conservative voters everywhere in the state say the same, including in rural areas (73 percent) and small towns (75 percent). More specifically, conservative voters in Ohio express support for a number of policies that promote energy efficiency and greater production of renewable energy. We tested a randomized list of policies requesting that respondents indicate support or opposition to each one. As the next graph indicates, an overwhelming majority of these conservative voters indicate support for programs to encourage energy efficiency (82 percent support), to require increasing use of renewable energy by five percent in the next five years (62 percent support) and to re- work set- back limits for wind turbines to ensure greater production of wind energy in rural areas (72 percent support). It is notable that support for the latter policy regarding wind turbine set- backs is just as strong in small towns (70 percent) and rural areas (69 percent) as in more urban parts of the state.

3 Page 3 Conservative voters also register support for increasing research and development to accelerate the adoption of battery storage technologies (74 percent support, 21 percent oppose). In addition, there is nearly ubiquitous support for net metering. As this is a relatively unfamiliar concept to most voters a brief explanation was provided that some utility customers generate their own power through solar panels. At times, they generate more than they can use and these customers get credit on their bills for the power they generate on their homes and business that is fed back into the electric system. Some utilities say this is not fair as these customers do not pay enough for the energy infrastructure they use. Fully 87 percent indicate support for continuing to credit customers for the power they generate at fair market prices, while just one- in- ten (10 percent) oppose this. Conservative voters would go even further to promote renewable energy in the state the average portion of electricity they say should come from renewable sources is 52 percent. When asked if it were up to them, what percent of Ohio s electricity would come from renewable sources like wind and solar power the average percentage is over half (52 percent). Fully 90 percent provided a number that exceeds the current 2.5 percent that comes from renewables in the state. Conservative voters are even willing to pay more in higher electricity prices if it means greater renewable energy use. While respondents were informed that the cost of renewable energy is coming down dramatically, they were asked hypothetically if it did cost more how much they would be willing to pay per month in higher electricity prices. Fully 88 percent say they would be

4 Page 4 willing to pay something more in order to increase the use of renewable energy. In fact, almost half 49 percent would be willing to pay five dollars or more a month. Overall willingness to pay more for renewable energy does not vary based on household income either, with 90 percent of the lowest income sub- group indicating a willingness to pay something more each month. This strong support for renewables is likely in part due to the fact that conservative voters are more likely to view greater use of renewable energy as a job creator. When asked what impact on jobs increasing the use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power will have in Ohio, a plurality of 42 percent say it will create new jobs in Ohio. This is 14 points higher than those who think it will cost jobs in Ohio. Another 24 percent believe it will not affect jobs in the state. Renewable energy is in the mix of traditional energy sources that has appeal for conservative voters in the state. As one can see in the following graph, when respondents are asked to rate their feelings toward various energy sources on a scale where 100 is a warm/very favorable feeling and 0 is a cold/very unfavorable feeling, the warmest feelings (80-100) are for natural gas and energy efficiency. Solar energy is next most favorable, and wind is on par with nuclear as an energy source in views among conservative voters. Conservative voters are more likely to reward than to punish a legislative candidate who supports clean energy policies. These voters are nearly four times as likely to say support of energy efficiency and clean energy policies would make them more likely to vote for a legislative candidate (31 percent) than be less likely to vote for him or her (8 percent). While a majority (60 percent) say this

5 Page 5 would not be a vote determinant for them, it is clear that support for these policies is more likely to be a positive or at least benign for voters when making their vote decision. Allowing surcharges on First Energy customers is opposed by four- in- five conservative Ohio voters, even when the utility rationale is provided as justification for these charges. Fully 79 percent of conservative voters including 83 percent of those who identify as First Energy customers oppose allowing new surcharges to be imposed in order to keep older coal and nuclear power plants operating and ensure long- term price stability. Opposition is significant and strong across every single sub- group: 75 percent of Cleveland area voters oppose the surcharges, 83 percent of retired conservatives, 75 percent of working conservatives, and 75 percent or more of every income sub- group. Conservative voters also stand strongly with continuing the current system of consumer choice in electricity provider in the state 85 percent support retaining the system even after hearing utility concerns. Again, we provided respondents with a brief explanation of the current system and concerns that have been raised on both sides of suggestions to change the current consumer choice system in the state. Conservative voters squarely come down in

6 Page 6 support of retaining the current system, with only 11 percent suggesting we allow changes as one can see in the following graph. Even AEP customers back the current system, with 80 percent indicating support for the current system after hearing both viewpoints. In fact, support for retaining the choice system in its current form exceeds 76 percent with every single demographic sub- group and in every region of the state. In conclusion, the survey clearly demonstrates support among conservative voters for a broad range of policies to encourage energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energy. In fact, the vast majority of voters in this conservative portion of the ideological spectrum say they would tell GOP candidates to back these kinds of policies. They think of renewable energy as a job creator, and place these sources of energy squarely in the mix of more traditional energy sources. They even go so far as to be willing to pay more in higher electricity prices if renewable energy costs more. These voters want to retain consumer choice, and strongly oppose surcharges that would shore up existing coal and nuclear power plants.