Cross-posted from the Breakthrough Institute and WattHead – Energy News and Commentary
This week, we’ve been writing about President-elect Barack Obama’s powerful mandate to build a new, clean energy economy and revitalize our nation’s ailing economy. A new post-election poll from Zogby Interactive confirms that Americans overwhelmingly view new investments in clean energy as critical to revitalizing America’s ailing economy.
The poll found that more than three out of four voters – 78% – support clean energy investments to revitalize the economy, with 50% saying they strongly agree that clean energy investment is vital to the nation’s economic future.
Clean energy investments enjoy broad, bipartisan support as well, the poll found. According to Zogby:
“While the vast majority of Democrats (96%) and independent voters (77%) view clean energy investment as a key means to boost the U.S. economy, more than half of Republican voters (58%) also said the same.”
Support for clean energy investments is strongest among young voters, African Americans and latinos, three demographics that were critical to Obama’s landslide electoral success.
Zogby found that:
“Support for clean energy investment is particularly strong among younger voters – 87% of those age 18-24 and 80% of those age 18-29 believe this type of investment is necessary to help improve the U.S. economy. African American voters (94%) and Hispanic voters (84%) also showed overwhelming support for clean energy investment.”
“While the economy was the top issue in the 2008 election, clean energy clearly emerged as part of voter expectations for getting the economy back on track,” said John Zogby, President and CEO of Zogby International. “Support for action on global warming, already strong in the 2006 election, was even stronger in 2008, particularly among young voters that are the future electorate.”
The Zogby Interactive survey of 3,357 voters nationwide was conducted Nov. 5-6, 2008, and carries a margin of error of +/- 1.7 percentage points. The survey was commissioned by the National Wildlife Federation.
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What about Obama’s not clean energy plans?
Offshore drilling, “clean coal”, “safe nuclear”, I certainly hope our movement which rightly is caught up in the historic Obama election, doesn’t see his presidency as a panacea for the climate change problem. I think we really need to be aware of how much we promote t his man and his ideas for America so we don’t fall into the trap the environmental movement fell into with the Clinton administration. Obama’s “hope” for a “change” in our energy economy could be nothing more than intelligent and attractive messaging. I mean c’mon, the man received $ 213,000 from individuals who work in the oil and gas industry. So friends, stay hopeful, cheerful and excited, but let’s agree to keep on our toes around this eh?
Now that the election is over we should start seriously scrutinizing some of his anti-environment rhetoric. “Clean coal” – fo’ realz? It’s Getting Hot in Here needs to stop kowtowing and start demanding results!
i strongly agree with both of the above