New Poll Explores Montanans' Views of Energy and New Growth and Development

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Billings, MT . . . Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund (MCVEF) and five other conservation groups today released findings of an energy and conservation poll, conducted by AmericanViewpoint that surveyed 600 very likely Montana voters from September 18^th - 21^st, 2008.  The poll shows that Montanans express a clear preference for renewable energy over coal, and that support for developing renewable energy, including wind, solar, biofuels and geothermal, is nearly universal as the preferred means of meeting Montana's energy needs.  When it comes to growth and land development, the survey found that an overwhelming majority of Montanans want to see their local governments take action to protect their quality of life.

The poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent, was conducted for MCVEF in collaboration with Montana Audubon, Montana Smart Growth Coalition, Northern Plains Resource Council, Sierra Club-Montana Chapter and the Sonoran Institute.

Regarding the findings, pollster Gary Ferguson wrote: "Montanans express a clear preference for increasing the development of renewable energy.  In all, 63% say renewable energy should be state government's highest energy priority, while 19% say the priority should be mining more coal and producing more energy from coal, and 13% say the highest priority should be supporting energy-efficient technology and conservation."

"In the face of higher energy prices and concerns about the economy, Montanans clearly support strategies to expand renewable energy," said Theresa Keaveny, Executive Director of Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund.

"Montanans want to see action from our elected officials to reduce pollution from power plants and safely store carbon dioxide," said Paul Shively, Sierra Club Senior Regional Representative.  The poll found that 70 percent of Montanans support coal companies safely storing all carbon dioxide from new coal plants to reach zero carbon emissions (23% oppose).  "We want our elected officials to get behind Montana citizens on this critical issue," he said.

OTHER KEY FINDINGS:

• Sixty one percent of Montanans favored relying more on developing

renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biodiesel and geothermal power, while 16 percent support expanding coal mining, and 18% said it didn't make a difference.

• Regarding breaking our oil addiction, 69% favor limiting greenhouse gases put into the air (22% oppose and 4% don't know). That way companies will have to produce and use cleaner forms of energy such as wind and solar, produced right here in the United States.

• The vast majority of Montana voters (80%) favor requiring utility companies to increase their use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, while 16% oppose this.

• Regarding coal bed methane development, Montanans (81%) say that companies should be required to clean up coal bed methane water before discharging it, which just 13% say that no more regulation is needed and would hurt the coal bed methane industry.

• A majority of voters (67%) support the elimination of the oil and gas production tax holiday, which was enacted to encourage production during an era of low oil prices, while 24% believe the tax holiday should remain in place. The tax holiday costs Montana between $40 and $60 million per year.

• Sixty two percent of voters were more supportive of eliminating the oil and gas production tax holiday if the new revenues would be used to improve the energy efficiency of school buildings, thereby reducing the operating costs of public schools (24% were less favorable, 7% didn't know).

"The survey found voters supported Montana communities to use planning and zoning to preserve their quality of life," said Tim Davis, Executive Director of Montana Smart Growth Coalition.  Two questions, using a split sample of 300 respondents each, asked Montanans whether their communities should do planning and zoning, or whether government should stay out of the way and allow property owners and developers to decide how to use their land. Respondents preferred planning and zoning by a 65 to 29 percent margin in one instance, and 56 to 35 in another.

• In another half sample, ninety-four percent of Montanans surveyed felt that with planning and zoning, local communities can establish agreed-upon rules to protect property values and protect residents' quality of life, as more people move to Montana and development expands, resulting in local communities experiencing land use conflicts.

• The survey also found that many Montanans believe their quality of life will deteriorate due to the pace of population growth and development. Thirty-two percent said they expected their quality of life to deteriorate, compared to 16 percent who said they expected it to improve.

To download a copy of the poll, head to the MCVEF website, found online at www.mtvotersedfund.org or call 406.254.1593

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About Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund:

The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund (MCVEF) is dedicated to building the capacity of Montana's conservation and environmental community to advance conservation issues within the state's democratic process.  MCVEF provides voter participation services to over 48,000 Montanans and seeks to build leadership and involvement in government.  On the web at www.mtvotersedfund.org.