Three in Four Voters Support New Clean Energy Projects to Meet Arizona’s Growing Energy Demands

Today, the American Lung Association in Arizona released polling that shows Arizona voters remain seriously concerned about air pollution (83%) and climate change (78%). A majority of voters (78%) believe Arizona should implement more clean energy policies to improve air quality and meet increased energy demand.

“Arizona has some of the worst air quality in the country, and voters overwhelmingly agree policymakers need to act on climate change (68%), said JoAnna Strother, Senior Director for Advocacy for the American Lung Association. “Clean energy can reduce harmful pollution, protect our health, and address climate change impacts.”

For six years, the American Lung Association has partnered with Global Strategy Group to conduct annual public opinion polls on air, energy, and climate issues in Arizona. This year’s poll showed voters want leaders to expand clean energy – which is viewed as better for the economy, electricity bills, and reliability compared to building new gas plants.

“Arizonans want clean energy solutions to meet growing demand, yet the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) continues to approve several methane gas expansion projects. The ACC needs to be held accountable to voters and direct our utilities to invest more in wind and solar power,” said Strother.

Over three-quarters of voters (76%) believe the state should implement policies that expand clean energy. Arizonans across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support more solar (75%) and wind power (59%). Respondents believe it will save families money (75%) and create jobs and strengthen the economy (74%).

Three-in-five voters believe that Arizona utilities should stop spending money to expand oil and gas infrastructure and instead transition to clean energy such as wind, solar, and energy efficiency. Voters overwhelmingly view policymakers much more favorably for supporting policies that encourage a transition to clean energy (64% more favorable/11% less favorable).

“Arizona utilities need to add more power generation, and solar and wind farms are strongly supported by voters compared to new gas plants,” said Strother. “By a wide margin (75% to 25%), Arizonans prefer clean energy projects.”

Voters believe building new clean energy projects will be better than new gas plants, for the health of Arizona families (82%), reducing air pollution (82%) and climate change impacts (80%). Nearly three-quarters of voters also believe wind and solar will keep electricity bills lower (71%), strengthen the economy and create quality jobs (71%), and improve electricity reliability (67%).

These data couldn’t be more clear: Arizona voters overwhelmingly prefer new clean energy project to new gas power plants because they believe that new clean energy projects will not only be better for the environment but also because they are a better option to keep electricity bills lower, to strengthen the state’s economy, and to improve the reliability of Arizona’s electricity,” said Global Strategy Group Partner, Andrew Baumann.

An analysis memo from Global Strategy Group can be found online here and topline results here.