Poll: 94% of Americans Want Solar Energy Future, 3% Want Coal

The US Senate Republicans are trashing hopes for a booming home-grown solar energy sector. Oh, but that’s not news.

And neither is the fact that nearly all Americans – across all parties – believe that a solar energy industry is vital to the United States. Ninety-eight percent of Independents. Ninety-seven percent of Democrats. And ninety-one percent of Republicans.

The survey findings were released by the SCHOTT Solar BarometerTM yesterday and were conducted by the independent polling firm, Kelton Research.

When asked which energy source they would support if they were president, 41 percent picked solar. Three percent chose coal. Together, solar and wind together were favored nearly 20 times more than America’s dirtiest fuel.

Best nugget of all?

Seventy-four percent of Independents, 72 percent of Democrats and 72 percent of Republicans said they favor the extension of federal tax credits for renewable energy development.

Which means: The Senate GOP has been repeatedly voting against a tax credit (as recently as yesterday) that a vast majority of its own party members are demanding.

The federal clean energy tax credit is set to expire in December 2008. Without long-term renewal, the US could lose 39,000 solar jobs and $8 billion in investments, according to an analysis by Navigant Consulting. Add wind power to that, and the numbers climb to 116,000 jobs and $19 billion in investments.

So, do we want clean energy made at home -- and the jobs and international competitiveness -- as the people are calling for? Or do we want an energy economy propped up by foreign oil and dirty black rocks that offer the promise of no new jobs?

It’s time for the Senate GOP to respect at last the will of its party – and all of the American people.

(Hat tip: The Sietch Blog)

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