Energy and Environment

New Poll of Virginians: 83% Want To Be Able to Choose Clean Electricity, 77% Want to Choose Their Electricity Provider; 66%-3% Want More CLEAN Energy vs. More Fossil Fuels

lowkell

January 25, 2021

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The following press release, from CleanChoiceEnergy.com, discussed a new poll of 700 Virginia adults by SurveyUSA. As you can see, the vast majority of Virginians want the freedom to choose clean energy and also to choose who supplies their homes with electricity. AND the vast majority of Virginians prefer that the state move towards more *clean* energy, NOT towards more dirty fossil fuels.  Attention policymakers! 😉

Super-Majority of Virginia Residents Want the Freedom to Choose Clean Energy

New Poll Shows Bi-Partisan Support for Virginia HB 2048 to Restore Virginian’s Right to Select Their Clean Energy Supplier

Richmond, VA. Jan. 25, 2021 — A new poll shows that a super-majority of Virginia residents want the freedom to choose their energy supplier, choose clean energy, and want more renewable energy to be generated in the Commonwealth of Virginia. SurveyUSA interviewed more than 500 Virginia adults who rent or own their home, pay their utility bills, and have at least some input on their utility company’s household choice. Support for consumers being able to choose their renewable energy provider cuts across the typical partisan divide. The vast majority of Republicans and Democrats agree that they want the freedom to choose their energy provider. The poll bolsters the case for HB2048, a bill sponsored by Delegate Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond, 71st District), that would restore Virginians’ ability to select their own 100% renewable energy provider. 

Highlights from the new survey:

• 83% of Virginia residents want the freedom to choose clean energy for their homes.
• 77% of Virginians want to be able to choose their electric supplier.  
• 66% of Virginia residents would like to see more clean, renewable energy in Virginia’s generation mix.
• 66% of respondents expressed an interest in community solar as a new way to support solar development without putting solar panels on their rooftop (assuming savings of 5-10% on electricity costs).

The new polling further bolsters the case that Virginia consumers support the ability to purchase 100% renewable energy from either a licensed supplier or their utility. The ability to choose their clean energy supplier is no longer available to Virginians because a 2007 law contained a ‘kill switch’ that ensured Dominion Power and Appalachian Power (APCo) could close down competition by simply offering their “one-size fits all” renewable energy product. HB2048 would restore customers’ ability to shop for 100% renewable energy, which would, in turn, promote and expand Virginia’s growing clean energy economy and help our Commonwealth meet our ambitious, but necessary carbon reduction goals.