American Lung Association Poll Finds Arizona Voters Believe Clean Energy Will Clean Up our Air and Strengthen Our Economy

Today, the American Lung Association in Arizona released updated polling that shows for the fifth consecutive year, Arizona voters continue to view air pollution and climate change as serious problems and support clean energy and transportation solutions. More than 7 in 10 voters agree a transition to clean energy will have a positive impact on air quality (78%) and the economy and jobs in Arizona (71%).

“Three-quarters (77%) of Arizona voters want to continue policies that encourage a transition to clean energy such as wind and solar,” said JoAnna Strother, senior advocacy director for the American Lung Association. “In fact, by a 64% to 11% margin, voters would feel more favorable towards Arizona policymakers who support continuing such policies.”

Over the last five years, the American Lung Association has partnered with Global Strategy Group to conduct annual public opinion polls on clean air, clean energy, and climate issues in Arizona. This year’s survey finds that overwhelming majorities of voters view air pollution (81%) and climate change (77%) as serious problems in Arizona, and two-thirds (66%) agree that “Arizona policymakers need to do more to combat climate change.”

“Arizonans care about air quality and want clean energy solutions.” said Strother. “The combustion of fossil fuels in our energy and transportation sectors generate unhealthy pollution that exacerbates respiratory and cardiovascular diseases including increased asthma attacks, worsened COPD, heart attacks and strokes, and in extreme cases premature death.”

The majority of voters across the political spectrum are supportive of increased clean energy use, with 74% supportive of more solar and 56% supportive of more wind power by contrast, just 28% support more “natural gas” – a number which drops to 12% when then term “methane gas” is used. Respondents believe that using more clean energy will create quality jobs and strengthen the Arizona economy (77%) and save Arizona families money (71%). Two-thirds of voters agree Arizona utilities should stop spending money on polluting methane gas and instead invest in wind, solar, and energy efficiency. More than 7-in-10 voters believe that continuing policies that encourage a transition to clean energy will have a positive impact on future generations of Arizonans (77% positive vs.4% negative), health of families (74%/11%),seniors and children (71%/15%), climate change (71%/10%), and your own family (70%/10%).

“Arizonans are counting on leaders and utilities to support clean energy and zero-emission transportation programs that break the cycle of polluted air” said Strother. “Over 60% of voters support continued investments in infrastructure and incentives to increase the affordability of electric vehicles.”

Arizona voters strongly support non-combustion energy and zero-emission transportation, specifically:

• 78% of voters support assistance for homeowners/renters to increase energy efficiency
• 63% of voters support transitioning public fleets such as school buses to zero-emission vehicles
• 62% of voters support investing in charging infrastructure and incentives to make electric vehicles more affordable

Importantly, even after a balanced debate on the issue of clean energy that includes attacks from opponents claiming that “Forcing us [Arizonans] to use expensive and unproven sources like wind and solar will cause more blackouts, raise our utility bills, and hurt our economy” support for policies that encourage a transition to clean energy like wind and solar remains at a 74%.

“Any Arizona lawmaker who wants to repeal policies that encourage clean energy is vastly out of step with the state’s voters,” said Global Strategy Group Partner, Andrew Baumann. “Voters understand that more clean energy means cleaner air, more jobs, and lower costs. That’s why they overwhelmingly support policies that encourage a transition to wind and solar.”

An analysis memo from Global Strategy Group can be found online here, along with the topline results.

For media interested in speaking with local air quality or lung health professionals, please contact the American Lung Association at MediaWest@Lung.org.