More Americans favor power plant rules than oppose them — survey

Source: Jean Chemnick, E&E reporte • Posted: Friday, April 25, 2014

More Americans support U.S. EPA regulation of coal-fired power plant carbon than oppose it, according to survey results released today by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University.Out of 1,013 adults surveyed, 64 percent favored “strict” power plant rules, even when they were told “the cost of electricity to consumers and companies will likely increase.” Support for the rules among Democratic and Democratic-leaning respondents was stronger (80 percent) than opposition among Republicans (56 percent), and independents were evenly split at 50 percent.

The survey polled 100 more self-identified Democrats (454) than Republicans (354), along with 103 independents, but Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, said it was randomly conducted. The poll was taken earlier this month and carried a 3-point margin of error. Its complete results will be released at a later time.

The survey comes as EPA’s proposal for existing power plant CO2 is being vetted by the White House Office of Management and Budget, and as the agency continues to accept public comment for its new power plant proposal.

It also comes as groups continue to weigh in on what the rule should look like, and especially whether it should cover “inside the fence line” emissions only, or should create incentives for fuel switching, renewable energy and energy efficiency.