The vast majority of Texas residents believe it is important for the state to develop and use renewable energy - even if it costs them more on their monthly electric bills, according to a new survey conducted by Baselice & Associates Inc. and commissioned by the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation.
The survey of 993 registered voters (margin of error: +/- 3.2%) was conducted April 15-21. The findings show that 85% of those polled believe Texas should increase the production and use of renewable energy sources. Of those, 59% "strongly" favor increasing production of renewable energy.
Furthermore, more than 79% of Texans, including 71% of Republicans and 73% of self-identified conservatives, support financial incentives - such as loans, subsidies and temporary tax reductions - to recruit renewable energy businesses and associated jobs to Texas.
According to the researchers, support crossed party, racial and gender lines, with 86% of Democrats, 59% of Republicans, 89% of Hispanics, 84% of females under the age of 55 and 61% of males over the age of 55 supporting a requirement for electric companies to procure a certain percentage of their electric power from renewable sources.
Although respondents said they supported more investment in all forms of renewable energy, 61% agree that the state should require a certain percentage of the state's electricity to be generated from solar power. Moreover, a majority (53%) of those polled said they would support solar requirements, even if doing so were to cost $2 to $3 more on their monthly electric bills.
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