A new US consumer survey by Pike Research has revealed that there is strong support for renewable energy sources and little backing for cap and trade as a carbon management scheme.
Conducted among more than 1,000 US adults, the survey revealed that 79 per cent of consumers have a favourable view of solar energy; while 75 per cent have a favourable view of wind energy. Hybrid vehicles had strong backing at 64 per cent; while electric vehicles also did well, being backed by 57 per cent. However, at the bottom of the rankings were carbon offsets/credits; LEED certification; and cap and trade – the latter receiving a favourable view from just 15 per cent.
To further emphasise the point, cap and trade tied with nuclear power in terms of the largest percentage of “strongly unfavourable” voters – each received a 19 per cent unfavourable rating.
The least familiar of the concepts to the respondents was the LEED Certification, which is the green building certification program, administered by the US Green Building Council. A sizeable 53 per cent stated they were unfamiliar with the concept.
Interestingly, in terms of transportation, while hybrids received the highest percentage of favourable responses, they also elicited the second fewest “not sure/not familiar” responses.
