November 2, 2011 -- The 2011 SCHOTT Solar Barometer, a
national US survey conducted by Kelton Research (independent
polling agency) results show that
solar
energy development and federal incentives for solar are
popular across the political spectrum in the US.
For the fourth consecutive year, about 9 out of 10 Americans
(89%) surveyed think the US should develop and use solar
energy. By political affiliation: 80% of Republicans, 90% of
Independents, and 94% of Democrats.
This is down 5% from
2010's poll results, wherein 94% of Americans voiced
support for solar (the largest drop-off is in positive
Republican respondents). The percentages were 92% in 2009
and 94% in 2008.
82% of Americans want federal incentives for solar, such as
federal tax credits and grants similar to those that
traditional sources of energy like oil, natural gas and coal
have received for decades. By political affiliation: 71% of
Republicans, 82% of Independents, and 87% of Democrats.
The pollers asked participants to select an energy source
they would support if they led US energy policies. 39% chose
solar, 21% natural gas, 12% wind, 9% nuclear, and 3% coal.
16% said they did not think the government should invest in
energy sources.
Solar is a "win-win" for Washington's job creation push,
said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy
Industries Association. Resch points to successful programs
like the 1603 Treasury Program, which helped the solar
industry double its workforce in the last 2 years. The solar
industry in the US employs more than 100,000 Americans at
5,000 businesses spanning every state, Resch said.
SEIA notes that the survey respondents support solar despite
heavily-subsidized solar panel maker
Solyndra's recent bankruptcy. Despite this failure, 8
out of 10 (82%) respondents think the federal government
should support US solar manufacturing; 51% of Independent
voters called this “extremely important.”
Solar supprt extends to consumer choices, with the majority
of respondents saying they'd choose a product manufactured
in a solar-powered factory.
Solar energy consumption is still hindered by cost -- 48% of
Americans cited cost as their biggest concern with choosing
solar energy. SEIA calls this an education issue, with solar
panel prices dropping and solar leasing options becoming
more widely available. Reliability is the other big concern.
Other issues -- aesthetics, uncertainty over the benefit --
were negligible.
The survey results are available in detail at
http://seia.us/sERklb
The Solar Energy Industries Association is the national
trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry.
Internet:
www.seia.org.