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Executive Summary
Highlights
The June 2004 Public Attitudes
and Support for Solar Power Survey was conducted for Environment California
Research and Policy Center by Baldassare Associates. The survey included telephone
interviews with 600 likely voters living in California. Interviewing was conducted
June 24-27, 2004. The margin of error is +/- 4 percent for the total sample.
Here are the highlights of the survey:
•
Californians show
strong support for increasing the use of solar power in the state. By a 2:1
margin, likely voters favor developing more renewable energy sources (61%) over
building more power plants (31%) to meet the state’s growing energy needs. Support
for increasing the use of solar power is greatest among Democrats (67%), and
in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area (64% each).
•
Nearly nine in 10
(87%) have a favorable opinion of solar power, with 52 percent very favorable.
Solid majorities in all demographic and political groups are favorable toward
solar power.
•
More than seven in
10 (72%) favor a plan to build half of new homes with solar power systems, which
was proposed by Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of his energy action plan during
his campaign for governor. A majority of Republicans and Democrats alike favor
this plan. Two in three voters who favor the plan for 50% of new homes to be
built with solar power want this goal accomplished by 2010.
•
Overall, six in 10
likely voters want the state to institute standards directing the inclusion
of solar power systems in new housing. At least half in all demographic and
political groups support state solar standards.
•
A similar number (58%)
favor including provisions for solar power as part of the state’s building code.
While a majority of Democrats supports this (66%), fewer than half of Republicans
agree (47%).
•
Voters strongly support
encouraging the use of solar power systems with subsidies. Six in 10 favor providing
subsidies to builders to install solar power on new homes, and seven in 10 want
subsidies for homeowners to purchase solar systems.
•
Sixty-eight percent
would be more interested in buying a home if it included solar energy, and 63
percent would be willing to pay more to buy a solar home. Most (52%) would be
willing to pay less than $10,000. Those most inclined to pay more for a home
equipped with solar power are Central Valley residents (73%), 18- to 34-year-olds
(72%), and those with incomes over $100,000 (66%).
•
Voters see the most
important reason to support solar power development as decreasing dependence
on foreign oil (35%).
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