A poll of 319 small business owners in the states of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire show strong support for clean energy and climate legislation, according to the Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority.
The survey also indicates that small business owner support for the bill in all three states will increase if it includes several measures to help them take advantage of new developments in clean energy such as interest free loans to help them make energy-efficiency upgrades, free energy audits, and consultation on how they can profit from the emerging clean energy industry.
Here are some key findings by state:
In a survey of 167 small business owners in Massachusetts, 66 percent of respondents support the bill being debated in Washington right now compared to only 31 percent who are opposed.
Sixty-nine percent think that moving the country to clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs, and 66 percent agree that adopting new energy policies will transform the economy and want their businesses to be part of the revitalization, compared with 28 percent who don't.
Another finding shows that 68 percent of Massachusetts business owners think the U.S. should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy while 21 percent think the country should continue subsidizing oil companies.
Similarly, the survey of 78 small business owners in Maine finds that 61 percent of respondents support the climate bill, compared to only 38 percent who are opposed, while 67 percent of small business owners think clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs.
Sixty-three percent of Maine small business owners agree that adopting new energy policies will help the economy and want to be part of revitalization, compared with 32 percent who don't. Sixty-one percent think the U.S. should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy while 27 percent think the country should keep subsidizing oil companies.
The survey of 74 New Hampshire small business owners indicates that 60 percent support the climate bill compared to only 36 percent who are opposed. Sixty-four percent think clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs, and sixty-five think the adoption of new energy policies will help the economy and want to be part of the revitalization, compared with 35 percent who don't.
Sixty-two percent think the U.S. should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy while just 25 percent think the country should keep subsidizing oil companies.
