FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2020
Contact: Matt Welch – [email protected]
Statewide Poll Shows Strong Support Across Party Lines for
Free Market Energy Solutions and Increased Competition
Innovative technologies and capital investments are widely supported
AUSTIN, Texas — Conservative Texans for Energy Innovation (CTEI) today released its second annual statewide poll that demonstrates Texas voters’ strong support of public policies that encourage responsible clean energy solutions rooted in private sector innovation, entrepreneurship, and free market growth—as opposed to government interventions.
“Texans understand that the path to a clean energy future in the Lone Star State is one of unleashing the genius of innovators and empowering energy entrepreneurs,” said Matt Welch, state director of CTEI. “These strategies lead to more job creation, expanded customer choice, and new technologies. Texans are proud of our legacy of accomplishments in clean energy and want to retain our well-earned role as a national energy leader.”
The poll was conducted by preeminent conservative national pollster Glen Bolger of Public Opinion Strategies (POS). Key findings include:
Fully 67% of voters, including 87% of Republicans and 59% of Independents, stated their preference for approaches that allow the free market and private sector to provide more clean energy production, rather than government mandates and incentives.
An overwhelming majority (73%) of voters across the political spectrum favor innovation to accelerate the development and use of clean energy in Texas, while only 21% support government regulation.
Consumer choice enjoys solid backing, with 89% of voters supportive of policies which permit third-party sales of electricity from outside a monopoly utility, allowing customers a choice in what type of energy they consume and from whom.
A strong majority of Texans (81%) support an “all of the above” approach to energy policy in Texas.
Additionally, Texas voters believe that increasing the state’s clean energy production and consumption will:
Help the economy and create jobs – 73%
Improve reliability of the electric grid – 69%
Increase customer choice – 80%
Result in more energy innovation – 85%
“For the second consecutive year this survey has shown that Texas voters, specifically Republicans and Independents, offer solid to strong support for policies encouraging more clean energy in Texas,” said Bolger. “Texas voters understand the numerous benefits of these policies, namely job creation, technology advancement, innovation, and a cleaner environment.”
Welch concluded, “It’s encouraging to see that Texas voters understand and support market-driven solutions and oppose excessive regulation and government mandates that unnecessarily pit the environment against the economy.”
Methodology
Public Opinion Strategies conducted a telephone survey of 600 likely Texas voters from March 14-17, 2020. The margin of error for this survey is +/- 4.0%.
CTEI is an education and advocacy organization launched to promote energy innovation and clean energy policies grounded in the conservative principle of common sense, market-based solutions that allow fair competition and provide greater access to clean, affordable and reliable energy. For more information, go to www.conservativetexansforenergyinnovation.org. You can follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cnsrvtxns4nrg/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/cnsrvtxns4nrg.
