Virginia Small Business Owners Support Government Investments in Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
Date: 
Thursday, May 10, 2012

Small businesses account for a significant share of Virginia’s economy. For every one large business in Virginia, there are 50 small businesses diligently working to reenergize the state’s economy. These entrepreneurs are doing everything they can to hire, grow and move their businesses forward. As part of these efforts, recent scientific opinion polling shows that Virginia’s entrepreneurs want pragmatic, innovative policies that help guide them into a competitive, modern clean energy economy.

The majority (78%) of respondents say government investments in clean energy play an important role in creating jobs and boosting the economy, and a majority of owners agree the government should continue investing in renewable energy despite the failure of Solyndra, a company that received a $535 million federal loan guarantee prior to filing for bankruptcy.

Key Findings

Virginia small business owners believe government investments in clean energy have an important role in boosting our national economy and creating jobs: 78% of respondents believe it is important government continues to invest in clean energy

Owners agree clean energy investments will boost economy, create jobs

Which of these statements comes closer to your point of view, even if neither one is exactly right:

Government investments in clean energy and energy efficiency have an important role in boosting our national economy and creating jobs now.

OR

Government investments in clean energy and energy efficiency are a waste of money, and neither play an important role in growing our national economy or creating jobs.

Government should play a role in creating financial incentives that encourage people to take energy efficiency measures: The vast majority (80%) of Virginia small business owners believe government should play an important role in creating financial incentives that encourage people to take energy efficiency measures

Small business owners believe government should play a role in creating incentives encouraging energy efficiency

Government should play an important role in creating financial incentives that encourage people to take energy efficiency measures, like installing energy efficient light bulbs.

A solid majority of owners support EPA regulations “even if it would cause an increase in utility rates.” 60% of small business owners support the EPA regulating carbon pollution and other emissions on power plants even if it meant an increase in their utility costs.

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