March 11, 2020
Key Findings on a Transition to Renewable Energy:
- A strong majority of likely Utah voters — 59 percent to 18 percent— believe that a transition away from coal-fired power to renewable energy use in Utah is important for improving life for future generations of their families.
- Among the voters surveyed, a strong majority — 58 percent — also say a transition to clean energy would have a positive impact in mitigating the effects of climate change in Utah, and 57 percent do not think it would have a negative impact on the state’s economy and job outlook.
- A 20-point majority of those Utah voters — 53 percent to 33 percent — support a proposal to phase out PacifiCorp’s coal plants across Utah and Wyoming by 2030 and replace them with renewable energy. Support for the proposal is largely cross-partisan and wide-ranging.
KEY FINDINGS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS:
In addition to recognizing the benefits a transition to renewable energy would have on mitigating climate change and benefiting future generations of their families:
- Most voters reject the idea that transitioning from coal-fired power to renewable energy use in Utah would have a negative impact on their electricity bills in the long term.
- A large majority, 72 percent, reject the idea that this proposal would have a negative impact on the reliability of their electricity.
- And 65 percent believe the transition to clean energy by retiring the coal plants would help improve air quality.
KEY FINDINGS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS:
In addition to recognizing the benefits a transition to renewable energy would have on mitigating climate change and benefiting future generations of their families:
- Most voters reject the idea that transitioning from coal-fired power to renewable energy use in Utah would have a negative impact on their electricity bills in the long term.
- A large majority, 72 percent, reject the idea that this proposal would have a negative impact on the reliability of their electricity.
- And 65 percent believe the transition to clean energy by retiring the coal plants would help improve air quality.
