Voters care about energy concerns

Montanans place a high priority on developing more reliable and affordable sources of energy, according to a poll released Thursday by the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund.

The Billings-based group works to preserve, protect and enhance “Montana's environment for future generations through effective citizen participation in the democratic process,” according to its Web site.

The group hired a Washington, D.C.-based polling firm to survey 600 very likely Montana voters. The findings showed that energy concerns were on par with improving health care and a higher priority than improving schools or even gaining better paying jobs in the state. *

The poll was conducted from Sept. 6-14 by Belden, Russonello & Stewart.

“Concerns about energy have been front and center in political campaigns this year,” said Theresa Keaveny, executive director of MCVEF.

“We undertook this poll to learn about Montanans' views of some of the key energy policy debates facing the legislature, city and county government, the Schweitzer administration and Congress,” she said. “Montanans are giving a clear and unambiguous message that they want our policy makers to focus on reliable, affordable energy, coming from renewable sources and efficiencies.”

Pollster John Russonello, in a teleconference with reporters, said the survey shows that Montanans overwhelmingly favor developing renewable energy like wind energy, solar energy and biofuels over increased coal development.

He said pollsters sought to find out how voters prioritize energy issues and how those issues compare to other statewide issues. They also tried to find out where global warming resonates with voters.

Developing reliable and affordable energy and making healthcare more affordable tied at 46 percent as the top priorities among voters. Russonello said those two faired better than better paying jobs (39 percent) and increasing funding for schools (32 percent).

“The fact that reliable and affordable energy was at the top with health care, we think of that as very significant,” he said.

Russonello said pollsters explored the issue of coal production as an energy source. They asked voters whether they favored increasing clean production of coal, which is abundant in the state, or developing renewable energy sources like winder energy and biofuels.

“Sixty-eight percent chose developing more renewable energy to 28 percent who chose increased coal development,” he said.

Other findings of the survey:

€ A majority of voters (56%) believe that they pay higher energy bills than do consumers in other states and almost all (88%) agree that by investing in energy efficiency technology consumers will save money.

€ Montana voters would rather have our national energy policy reduce the need for oil by requiring cars and trucks to get better gas mileage (66%) than rely on finding more places to drill for oil on public lands (28%).

€ Broad majorities would support their communities running city vehicles on cleaner biodiesel fuel, even if it cost more money (71% in favor, 21% opposed).

€ Reducing global warming pollution is very important to many Montana voters (25% top priority).

“The poll paints a picture of Montana voters as wanting energy that is less expensive, cleaner, and renewable and more reliable and less destructive on Montana's land and water,” Russonello said.

In response to a question about the wording of the questions, including ones about coal production, Russonello defended the survey. He said pollsters tried to word questions in a way that did not try to sway voters one way or the other.