Clean energy policy:ME STATE FINDINGS |
Clean energy policy:ME PRESS RELEASE |
Clean energy policy: AUDIO |
Support for Energy Bill from Maine Small Business Owners
Small business owners in Maine strongly believe the country needs to move toward clean energy and that new energy policies will transform the economy and help them create new jobs. They support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation currently being discussed in the US Senate. Support for a climate and energy bill from Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins would be a winner with small business owners back home. A Public Policy Polling survey of 319 small business owners across a three state region including Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire were interviewed for this survey including 78 specifically in Maine between July 7th and 11th, found that:
- 61% of small business owners support the bill being debated in Washington right now compared to only 38% who are opposed. That includes support from an overwhelming majority of Democrats (85/14) as well as 50% of independents and 48% of Republicans. Owners of businesses with less than $250,000 in annual revenue are particularly supportive of the bill, with 63% favoring it and 36% opposed.
- 67% of small business owners think that moving the country to clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs. 77% of Democrats and 77% of independents alike share that sentiment. Owners of businesses with fewer than 10 employees are particularly optimistic that a shift in energy sources will spur job creation.
- 63% of small business owners agree that adopting new energy policies will transform the economy and want their businesses to be part of the revitalization, compared with 32% who don’t.
- 61% of business owners think America should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy while just 27% think the country should keep subsidizing oil companies.
- Small business owner support for the bill will increase even further if it includes several tools to help them take advantage of new developments in clean energy. This includes interest free loans to help them make energy efficiency upgrades, free energy audits to help them learn how to reduce usage and save money, and consultation on how they can profit from the emerging clean energy industry.