Yesterday, the Partnership for a Better Energy Future—a coalition of 175 groups and associations, including the NC Chamber—released polling data showing that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is out of sync with voters across the country. According to a national survey of 1,340 likely voters and 11 statewide surveys of likely voters conducted earlier this month by Paragon Insights, a majority of voters believe the United States cannot afford new costs and potential job losses resulting from the EPA’s proposed greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations.

Other key findings of the surveys further illustrate the concerns held broadly by voters nationwide and even more intensely by voters in states that could be disproportionately impacted by these rules.

• A plurality of voters are opposed to the EPA regulations: 47% of voters oppose the regulations, with 31% strongly opposed; 44% support the regulations, with just 19% strongly supporting them. Men, seniors and middle-class voters are the most strongly opposed to the regulations.
• Nearly 4 in 10 voters are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports the EPA regulations: 39% of voters are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports the regulations while 22% are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports the regulations.
• Nearly half of voters say they are not willing to pay a single dollar more in their energy bill to accommodate the EPA regulations: 45% of voters say they are not willing to pay more in their monthly energy bill.
• A majority of voters believe the United States cannot afford new costs and potential job losses resulting from the EPA regulations.
• Almost three-quarters of voters say they want all-of-the-above energy policies.

You can review the findings of this poll in greater detail at www.betterenergyfuture.org/poll. As a member of the Partnership for a Better Energy Future, the NC Chamber is working with stakeholders across the country to educate and mobilize the broader business community and elected and public officials to address widespread concerns with the proposed greenhouse gas rules.

Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
North Carolina Chamber