Poll: Vermonters Support Action to Address Global Warming

At a press conference in Montpelier today, Energy Independent Vermont released data from a survey of likely Vermont voters.  The key findings include:

  • Vermonters believe global warming is happening, understand that it is human caused, and they are worried. Eighty one percent of Vermonters think global warming is happening; 63% understand that global warming is primarily human caused; and 70% are worried about global warming.
  • Vermonters support the State’s renewable energy (78%) and greenhouse gas reduction (75%) goals. A large majority of Vermonters also support action to achieve those goals, including a carbon pollution tax that’s paired with tax cuts and investments in efficiency (63%).
  • By a 2-to-1 margin (59% to 26%), Vermonters are more likely to vote for a candidate who makes support of clean energy central to their campaign.

“Vermonters understand that global warming is a threat to the Vermont way of life,” said Energy Independent Vermont campaign director Tom Hughes.  “Three out of four Vermonters support the goals in the State’s Comprehensive Energy Plan, and nearly two thirds support the most effective way to reduce carbon emissions while strengthening the Vermont economy – a carbon pollution tax balanced by other tax cuts and investments in clean energy.”

In the race for Governor of Vermont, the poll found that 68% of Republican primary voters support Phil Scott over Bruce Lisman (23%), with nine percent undecided (n=171; MOE +7.5%).  In the Democratic primary, Matt Dunne (31%) and Sue Minter (36%) are statistically tied for the lead, with Peter Galbraith at eight percent and 25% undecided (n=217; MOE +6.6%).

View the complete results below.

The 600-person, likely voter survey was conducted by Fairbanks, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates from June 26-29, 2016 with a margin of sampling error of +4%.

https://www.energyindependentvt.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/7-7-16-Poll-Final.pdf