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HART
RESEARCHA S S O T E SC I A
Energy And Climate
Change PolicyA Survey among American Voters
Conducted September 2009 for
8/14/2019 Powepoint Presentation of "Energy And Climate Change Policy: A Survey among American Voters."
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2 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Methodology
u Telephone survey among 1,002 registered voters
u Survey dates August 24 31, 2009
u Margin of error = 3.0 percentage points overall
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3 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Voters See Need For Significant
Changes To U.S. Energy PolicyAssessment of Americas Energy Policy
47%
4%4% 19%
26%
Need completeoverhaul
66%
SIGNIFICANT
REFORM
Need majorreform
Need minorreform
No need
for change
Notsure
Majorities Across Partyand Region Agree
Democrats
Independent
Republicans
Northeast
SouthMidwest
West
Completeoverhaul/major reform
76%
62%
55%
74%
66%54%
71%
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7%
10%
12%
12%
14%
20%
24%Development/use of
renewables/alternativesMinimize new govern-
ment bureaucracy
Minimize negative impacton jobs/job creation
Minimize any new taxes
Promote new greenenergy jobs
Reduce carbon emissionslinked with climate change
Minimize costs toconsumers/electric rates
Voters Priorities for Energy Reform
Second highest priorityHighest priority
41%
32%
28%
What should be Congress priorities for an energy proposal to reducecarbon emissions and increase use of alternative & renewable sources?
30%
26%
21%
19%
50% Dem
30% GOP
13% Dem55% GOP
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5 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Strong Support For Reducing Carbon
Emissions/Expanding RenewablesWould you favor or oppose an energy proposal to significantlyreduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change andincrease the use of alternative and renewable energy sources?
25%
12%
6%
49%
8%
Stronglyfavor
74%
FAVOR
Not
sure
Somewhatfavor
Somewhatoppose
Stronglyoppose
Majorities Across Partyand Region Agree
Democrats
Independent
Republicans
NortheastSouth
Midwest
West
Strongly/somewhat
favor
91%
67%
59%
82%71%
72%
74%
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6 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Voters Current (Unaided) View of
Cap and TradeKnowledge of Cap and Trade
A lot/fairamount
A lot9%
Very little/not heard of
24%
Attitude toward Cap and Trade
Justsome
Have notheard of
35%14%
61%
Positive Neutral/not sure
Negative
Verynegative
19%
DK name/not sure
27%
13%
Very 2%
29%
58%
8/14/2019 Powepoint Presentation of "Energy And Climate Change Policy: A Survey among American Voters."
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Voters Informed Reaction To
Cap And TradeThe plan sets an overall limit or "cap"on the amount of carbon dioxideemissions that U.S. companies couldproduce with higher limits phased inover time. For example, one specificcap and trade proposal would reduce
carbon emissions 17% by the year2020 and 80% by the year 2050.
The federal government would auctionor issue permits that allow companiesto emit carbon dioxide up to theamount set by the cap. Companiesthat produce or emit less than their
allowance could sell or trade theirunused emissions permits to com-panies that go over their allowance.The idea would be to create a market-based system that allows companiesto decide how best to deal with the capset on their carbon emissions.
32%
30%
8% 14%
16%
Stronglyfavor
46%
FAVOR
Notsure
Somewhatfavor
Somewhatoppose
Stronglyoppose
46%
OPPOSE
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9 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Voters Informed Reaction To
Carbon Tax
This plan would put a tax on carbonemissions so that the cost of carbonpollution is reflected in the price ofenergy. While there would not be aspecific cap or limit on carbonemissions, the tax would be set at alevel so that it acts as an incentive forcompanies to reduce their carbonemissions, improve the efficiency offossil fuel use, and also develop newtechnologies and alternative energies.
A carbon tax approach also would
create incentives for consumers to useenergy more efficiently. Individualsand households would receive taxrefunds to offset the impact of thecarbon tax.
31%
23%
6%
26%
14%
Stronglyfavor
57%
FAVOR
Notsure
Somewhatfavor
Somewhatoppose
Stronglyoppose
37%
OPPOSE
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10 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Voters Support Carbon Tax Over
Cap & Trade By Strong Margin
36%
7%
15% 22%
20%
Carbon taxfavor strongly
58%
CARBON
TAX
Neither/not sure (2%)
27%
CAP &
TRADE
Preferred Approach for Reducing Carbon Emissions
Carbon taxnot strongly
Cap & tradenot strongly
Cap & tradefavor strongly
Carbon Tax supportersare also more committedin their view: 38% ofcarbon tax supporters
describe their support asstrong; 26% of cap &trade supporters say thesame.
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Perceived Benefits Of Cap & Trade
Over Carbon Tax% saying each is very/fairly convincing argument for cap & trade approach
Recession/high unemployment make this the wrong time to pass new,across-the-board tax on businesses and consumers (40% very convincing)
Carbon tax requires all U.S. companies pay same tax, no flexibility for
impact on local/regional companies; cap & trade has permit flexibility (21%)
Cap & trade model used successfully in U.S. in 1990s to limit sulfurdioxide emissions and dramatically reduce acid rain levels (22%)
Cap & trade sets clear limit on carbon emissions, specific benchmarks &timetables; carbon tax doesnt guarantee companies will reduce emis-sions rather than pay tax, so environmental impact much less certain (18%)
Carbon tax triggers immediate cost increase to businesses/households;have to be paid before any rebates or refunds provided (21%)
Bipartisan support for cap & trade, so more likely to pass; President, Sen-ator McCain, key Dem & GOP Congressional leaders support (18%)
55%
44%
42%
40%
36%
36%
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13 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Perceived Benefits Of Carbon Tax
Over Cap & Trade% saying each is very/fairly convincing argument for carbon tax approach
Simple market-based incentive for business; cap & trade has no directincentive to change behavior, big polluters can buy out (35% very convincing)
Simple, transparent, implement quickly, little bureaucracy/admin costs; cap& trade is complex, vast bureaucracy, vulnerable to special interests (34%)
Cap & trade sets new standards over long time for business/individuals toreact, not effective with urgency of problem; EU cap & trade since 2005, sofar not lower carbon emissions (31%)
Cap & trade creates commodities market for emissions, Wall Street bankscontrol trading/pricing, mismanagement/price instability; carbon tax steady,preset, transparent tax, promotes stable/predictable prices (30%)
Carbon tax has steady revenue stream, built-in funding for important
rebates/tax credits to business/households, alternatives/renewables (24%)Carbon tax has no impact on US GDP over 20 years, minimal impact onjobs/inflation; cap & trade cuts GDP $350B over 20 yrs, 2.5M jobs (25%)
Both raise energy costs, but carbon tax is rebated to consumer withoutminimizing enviro benefits/promotion of renewables; cap & trade sacri-fices enviro benefits to reduce economic impact (22%)
56%
53%
52%
49%
46%
43%
42%
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Best Approach For U.S. Economy
Carbon Tax supporters: Unlikecap & trade that will create rapidchanges and uncertainty in energyprices, a carbon tax establishes a
steady, preset, transparent tax oncarbon emissions, which promotesstable and predictable prices thatare better for American businessesand consumers.Cap & Trade supporters: It isflexible, allows companies to de-cide for themselves how to dealwith limits on their carbon emis-
sions, and can be adapted to takeinto account the impact of theemissions cap on certain industriesand regions. Especially in themiddle of a prolonged recession, acarbon tax approach of imposing anew, preset tax on business is abad idea.
31%
10%
16% 22%
21%
53%
CARBON
TAX
31%
CAP &
TRADE
With which argument do you agree more?
Carbon taxstrongly agree
Neither/not sure (3%)
Cap & tradestrongly agree
Carbon taxsomewhat agree
Cap & tradesomewhat agree
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15 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
Best Approach For Reducing Carbon
Emissions/Protecting Environment
Carbon Tax supporters: This issimple, straightforward, and easyto administer without the loopholesthat will make a cap and trade
approach ineffective.
Cap & Trade supporters: Thissets a specific limit on overallcarbon emissions while establish-ing specific benchmarks andtimetables that can be adapted toscientific evidence, while a carbon
tax does not actually force orguarantee that companies willreduce their carbon emissions.
29%
13%
14% 23%
21%
52%
CARBON
TAX
34%
CAP &
TRADE
With which argument do you agree more?
Carbon taxstrongly agree
Neither/not sure (3%)
Cap & tradestrongly agree
Carbon taxsomewhat agree
Cap & tradesomewhat agree
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16 Voters on Energy & Climate Change Policy September 2009 Hart Research for
9%
6%
11%
15%
22%
26%
15%
26%
28%
43%Scientists
Wind power industry
Environmental leaders
Leading economists
Barack Obama
Al Gore
Coal industry
Oil industry
Members of Congress
Major corporations
Credible Messengers
Fair amount of considerationGreat deal of consideration
71%
51%
How much consideration would you give to the views of this person/group in deciding between carbon tax and cap & trade approach?
50%
47%
46%
39%
34%
24%
24%
22%