Clean energy presents candidates with a positive, solutions-based narrative to talk about issues that matter most to Americans: jobs, the economy, gas prices, and the health of their families.
Fortunately, solutions to these challenges exist right now: clean energy reduces our dependence on oil, improves our national security and is building a new economy based on the American spirit of innovation. Voters understand this – and they’re supporting elected officials who share that vision.
Clean energy a win-win issue for candidates: in addition to being good public policy, it’s good politics.
Voters Support Clean Energy
- Voters Overwhelming Support EPA Air Pollution Rules
- Reuters/Ipsos: More Americans believe world is warming
- 2011 Gallup Environment Poll
- 2010 Post-Election Poll from Greenberg Quinlan Rosner (done for LCV, NRDCAF, NWFAF and Sierra Club)
- NRDC Action Fund Battleground Poll (Oct. 2010)
- Prop 23 Poll Presentation
- “Gas Prices” Poll by Belden, Russonello & Stewart
- Clean Air and EPA Authority Poll by Greenberg, Quinlan Rosner (done for American Lung Association)
- American Climate Attitudes: An Analysis of Public Opinion Trends and Recommendationsfor Advancing Public Engagement on Global Warming
Clean Energy Campaign Ads
- Reid for Senate Campaign Ads: Solar, Geothermal
- Bennet for Senate Campaign Ads: Jobs
- Heinrich for Congress:2008, Children 2010
- Prop 23: Ad, Ad, Ad, Ad
- Bill Ritter 2006: Ad
- Tom Udall: Steve Pearce Big Oil
Watch the individual interviews:
Other resources:
- Vast Majority of Latino Voters are Pro-Conservationist, Poll Finds (01/31/12)
- Modest Rise in Number Saying There Is ‘Solid Evidence’ of Global Warming
- List of states with some type of renewable energy standards
- U.S. Wind Power Increasingly American-made (Creating U.S. Manufacturing Jobs). Clean Technica. May 25, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Koch, W. U.S. Solar power industry booms, gains globally. USA Today. June 16, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2010 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: NAICS 212100—Coal Mining. May 17, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Natural Resources Defense Council. Doing More and Using Less: Regulatory Reforms for Electricity and Natural Gas Can Spur Energy 21 Efficiency. January 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Beincke, F. A new energy vision, from sea to shining sea. OnEarth. 22 May 10, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- American Lung Association. Asthma & Children Fact Sheet. February 23 2010. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Healthcare Without Harm. The Economic Affliction of Asthma and Risk of Blocking Air Pollution Standards. April 6, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Yale Project on Climate Change Communication. Public Support for Climate and Energy Policies in May 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Kay, J. ‘Green’ positions on climate change can help candidates, survey finds. Environmental Health News. June 29, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Gallup. Saad, L. In the U.S., Expanding Energy Output Still Trumps Green Concerns. March 16, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Gallup. Jones, J. In U.S., Alternative Energy Bill Does Best Among Eight Proposals. February 2, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- U.S. Department of Energy. States with Renewable Portfolio Standards. June 16, 2009. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Ford, G. Iowa wind energy supports 2,300 Iowa jobs. The Gazette. November 30, 2010. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- Union of Concerned Scientists. Broad and Bipartisan Support for Clean Energy and Job Creation. March 29, 2011. Accessed July 8, 2011.
- The Wind Coalition. 10,000 Wind Jobs Created: May 2010 Perryman Report. March 18, 2011.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. Howes, M. Voters prefer candidates who support clean energy, not more drilling, poll finds. May 4, 2011.
- Anonymous. Energy Ballot Initiatives Around the Nation. The New York Times. October 22, 2008.
- Wikipedia. Washington Initiative 937 (2006).
- Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. Taylor-Meisele, H. Voters Overwhelmingly support clean energy candidates. October 18, 2010.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. Energy Vote did not contribute to candidate defeat. November 4, 2010.
- Enik Rising. The costliest vote revisited. March 29, 2011.
- Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund. Perks, R. It’s not the climate bill, stupid. November 3, 2010.
- Seitz-Wald, A. Yes on Prop 23: Campaigners ‘Very Thankful’ for Out- of-State Oil Company Funding. Think Progress. October 14, 2010.
- Anonymous. Proposition 23 poll shows a dead heat among California voters. Los Angeles Times. September 24, 2010.
- Cueva, L. Poll shows Proposition 23 losing support in California. Daily Trojan. October 13, 2010.
- Nuthoff, A. In defeat of Prop 23, we all came together. Switchboard: Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog. November 14, 2010.
- Union of Concerned Scientists. Global Warming and California’s Economy.
- YouTube. Solar.
- Harryreid.com. Reid campaign releases ads on clean energy jobs.
- YouTube. Michael Bennett for U.S. Senate ‘Job One’.
- LaMonica, M. Obama Signs Stimulus Plan, Touts Clean Energy. Tioga Energy. February 17, 2009.
- Gallucci, M. Ohio’s struggling manufacturing sector finds clean energy clientele. Solve Climate News. March 4, 2011.
- Wehrman, J. End of Chinese subsidy good for Ohio’s clean energy jobs. Dispatch Politics. June 8, 2011.
- Natural Resources Defense Council. Renewable Energy for America: Harvesting the Benefits of Homegrown, Renewable Energy.
- McGowan, E. As GOP takes House, VA clean energy champion Pierrello loses seat. Solve Climate News. November 3, 2010.
- Public Regulation Commission, New Mexico. Renewable Energy Overview.
- American Wind Energy Association. Wind Energy Facts, New Mexico.
- YouTube. Martin Heinrich for Congress: Single Day.
- Sanchez, M. Analysis shows more than 10,000 people in Michigan now employed in renewable energy sector. Mlive.com March 22, 2011.
- Shahan, Z. Solar power graphs to make you smile. Clean Technica. June 10, 2011.
- Woody, T. California exceptionalism or a rising green tide? Grist. November 3, 2010
- Goode, Democrats use oil issue to fuel reelection bids. Politico. May 11, 2011.
- Miranda. New poll shows Americans want less corporate influence in politics. People for the American Way. August 11, 2011.
- CNN. CNN Opinion Research Poll. June 3-7, 2011.
- Natural Resources Defense Council. Fighting Oil Addiction.
- Beincke, F. Obama’s Biggest Opportunity to Save Us Money at the Pump: Call for 60 MPG by 2020. Switchboard: Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog. May 9, 2011.
- American Wind Energy Association. Metal Working for the Wind Industry.
- YouTube. McDonnell.
- VoteVets.org. New Poll of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans on Clean Energy Climate Change Legislation.
- American Lung Association. New poll shows overwhelming support for EPA and stronger smog standards.
- CommonDreams.org. 300 Groups Urge President Obama to Pledge Veto on Any Attack on Clean Air Act. June 23, 2011.
- German, B. Upton’s war against EPA climate rules unpopular at home. The Hill. May 19, 2011.
- Altman, P. Would you like cancer-causing or brain-poisoning pollution with that electricity? Switchboard: Natural Resources Defense Council Staff Blog. May 30, 2011.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA Helps Build Awareness Around Asthma. May 3, 2011.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report, United States, 2011. MMWR. Vol 60:January 14, 2011.
- Newcomb, A. High gas prices mean record profits for big oil. ABC News. April 24, 2011.