POLL: Political Candidates Need To Address EPA Regulations

By  //  October 23, 2014

Middle Class Top Opponent Of New Greenhouse Gas Regulations

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TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Polling results by Paragon Insights and released by the Partnership for a Better Energy Future (PBEF), a coalition of 175 members representing nearly every segment of the U.S. economy, finds that voters in Florida and nationwide have major concerns about the EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas regulations and are unwilling to pay even a dollar more for energy in exchange for these new rules.

epa-featured-image-180Of those surveyed, 53 percent agree the United States cannot afford new costs and potential job losses resulting from the EPA regulations. Forty-six percent oppose the regulations and 27 percent say they strongly oppose the regulations with 19 percent strongly supporting them.

Nearly half of those polled say they are not willing to pay a single dollar more in their energy bill to accommodate the new EPA regulations. Thirty-six percent of Florida voters are less likely to cast their vote for a candidate that supports EPA’s Clean Power Plan, versus just 25 percent who say they are more likely to vote for candidates that support the rule.

Middle-class voters and seniors are among the top opponents of the rule.

Middle-class voters and seniors are among the top opponents of the rule. The poll also finds that public opposition is led by concerns about job loss, possible energy rationing and increased electricity rates, especially for the middle class. The data comes on the heels of an economic analysis released last week by NERA Economic Consulting, which found that compliance with the EPA’s plan to regulate emissions from existing power plants would cost more than $366 billion and would drive electricity rates upward by 18 percent in Florida.

florida-retail-federation_“We support and encourage smart and innovative changes to our nation’s energy policies. Florida retailers have become energy savvy by devoting resources to ongoing sustainability efforts in order to protect our state’s treasured beaches, waters, and thriving tourism industry,” said Samantha Stratton with the Florida Retail Federation.

“We must keep in mind a healthy balance between keeping our economy strong and protecting the environment without overregulation on either side. These poll results demonstrate, once again, Florida voters are wary of another federal government-led overreach.”

“This poll is another clear example that Florida voters want a common sense balance when it comes to protecting our environment and jobs, said Ned Bowman with the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenient Store Association. These results come across loud and clear, Florida does not want to risk endangering our economy and jobs with extreme EPA regulations.”

The EPA will continue to receive public comments regarding the proposed regulation through December 1.

With so much at stake, the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, along with its 175 members, including the Florida Retail Federation, Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenient Store Association, Associated Industries of Florida, Florida State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will continue to educate Floridians through the close of the comment period and beyond as the issuance of a final rule approaches.

On behalf of the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, Paragon Insights conducted a statewide survey of 1,127 likely voters in Florida on October 3-9, 2014.

The interviews were conducted using both telephone and online methodologies. The data were weighted to approximately a target sample of likely voters based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, political party affiliation and cellular/landline telephone status. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.0 percentage points.