Thomas Young, thomas.young@sierraclub.org, Sierra Club Deputy Press Secretary
DENVER – In a new poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQR), Coloradans show strong support for generating 100 percent of Colorado’s electricity using clean, renewable energy.
The polling, released today by the Sierra Club, shows that nearly 7 in 10 Colorado voters would favor a goal of generating 100% of the state’s electricity using clean and renewable sources like solar and wind by 2030. Colorado Democrats are nearly unanimous in their support of this goal, and fully 7 in 10 independents are also on board. Among Latino voters in the state, 76 percent are supportive of the goal.
The City of Denver boasts particularly high support, where 83 percent of voters support this goal and 79 percent say they would feel more favorable toward an elected official who supports this goal.
“It’s not surprising that there’s growing broad support in Colorado for clean energy because it’s clear that technologies like wind and solar can free us from pollution, save us money, and create new jobs in a booming industry,” said Jim Alexee, Director of Sierra Club’s Colorado Chapter. “Coloradans know that replacing fossil fuels with 100 percent clean energy means we can all breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live in safer, healthier, and more prosperous communities.”
61 cities across the country have now committed to transition to 100 percent clean and renewable energy. In Colorado, eight communities have established a community-wide goal to transition entirely to clean, renewable energy. This list includes Pueblo, Breckenridge, Nederland, Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, and Summit County. Aspen is among the first cities in the country to be powered entirely with renewable energy. Last year, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock announced his support for a goal of powering all of Denver with 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
Other key findings from the poll include:
- Most Colorado voters believe their state can meet a 100% clean energy goal by 2030, with 57 percent saying they believe this goal is realistic. This percentage jumped to 63 percent after voters learn that over 50 cities across the country have already adopted this goal.
- Over half of Coloradans surveyed (59 percent) say they would have a more favorable impression of an elected official who supports a goal 100% clean energy.
See the full survey results here.
“State and local leaders across the country should take note: our most recent survey found that at least two-thirds of voters in every state we polled support transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources and a majority would feel more favorable towards a local official if they supported 100% renewable energy,” said Elizabeth Sena, partner at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research.
GQR conducted the survey among 500 registered voters in Colorado between December 12 and 17, 2017 using live interviewers. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence level.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.