A new statewide public opinion poll has produced data showing most of Ohio voters agree there should be laws requiring some portion of local energy to be generated from clean sources, such as wind and solar. To be more specific, the poll found almost 80% of voters support legally requiring clean energy in Ohio. About 75% support increasing the total number of wind farms. Nearly 60% would pay an extra $3 a month on a $100 dollar energy bill to support the development of electricity from clean sources. About 66% support the state of Ohio’s energy policy which promotes clean energy in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Perhaps even in more telling is the fact that 65% said they have total support for clean energy. Here is the energy question associated with this figure as it was stated in the poll:
“As you may or may not know, Ohio has a law that requires a certain portion of the electric power sold in the state be produced by clean energy sources, such as wind and solar power.
The law was passed to promote new sources of clean energy and make Ohio less dependent on fossil fuel energy sources like coal and natural gas. Do you support or oppose this law?
Would you say that you strongly support/oppose this law, or just somewhat support/oppose it?”
As mentioned above, 65% said they have total support, with another 35% saying their support is strong.
Still, there is some opposition, particularly from the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Republican state Sen. Kris Jordan is an ALEC member who has introduced a bill to repeal Ohio’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. This standard means utilities have to get 25% of their electricity from alternative or renewable sources by 2025. Considering there are still twelve years to reach the goal, it does not seem like an unreasonable target. Combined with the fact that most Ohio voters are for clean energy, it doesn’t appear to be quite enough. So opposing it seems like sheer folly.
Politifact reported Jordan spoke out on behalf of legislation that would open state parkland to drilling for fracking. Some conservatives that oppose clean energy development have ties to the petroleum industry, or are directly involved with it.
Image Credit: Alexander Smith, Wiki Commons
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