Support is Greater Among Oil, Gas, and Coal Workers and Their Families
Federal Green Bank, or Clean Energy & Sustainability Accelerator, is Included in Senate Budget Resolution
Washington, DC 一 Voters in two key states strongly support the bipartisan federal green bank, or Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator, that is included in the U.S. Senate budget resolution, according to new polling released today by the Coalition for Green Capital.
In West Virginia, 54% of likely voters support the Accelerator, with only 31% opposing (+23%), while 68% of likely voters in Alaska support the policy and only 20% oppose (+48%) — a more than three-to-one margin.
Among oil, gas, and coal workers and their families, support is even higher: 62% support and 77% support in West Virginia and Alaska, respectively. Voters in both states are more likely to vote for than against a senator who votes for the Accelerator.
“The Accelerator is a bipartisan proposal based on the success of state green banks in both red and blue states across the country. Now we know that voters in these two critical states support the Accelerator as it moves closer to becoming a reality — which will mean lower energy prices, job creation and greater health outcomes,” said Jeffrey Schub, executive director of the Coalition for Green Capital. “The Accelerator will bring significant investment to both Alaska and West Virginia and help to ensure a true transition for workers. This is exactly the type of bipartisan policy that Congress should support in upcoming legislation that advances to the President’s desk.”
Republican Alaska Congressman Don Young is a co-sponsor of legislation to establish and fund the Accelerator, and Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation to establish a state green bank earlier this year.
SUMMARY OF METHODOLOGY
The survey was conducted by Claster Consulting in Alaska and West Virginia from June 27 to July 8, 2021. In Alaska, 406 online interviews were conducted, with 20% of respondents working in the oil, gas, or coal industry or have a family member who does. The margin of error is +/- 4.9%.
In West Virginia, 401 online interviews were conducted, with 19% of respondents working in the oil, gas, or coal industry or have a family member who does. The margin of error is +/- 4.9%. Both groups of survey respondents were demographically representative in terms of age, gender, and ethnicity.
BACKGROUND
President Biden included the Clean Energy Accelerator, a national green bank that would inject funding into state green banks, as a key climate provision in the American Jobs Plan. Earlier this month, the U.S. House passed the bipartisan Accelerator as part of the INVEST in America Act (H.R. 3684), marking the third time the Accelerator has been passed by the chamber. Last week, in a letter to congressional leaders urging action on climate infrastructure, more than 140 mayors — a group known as “Climate Mayors” — called for the creation of a national green bank.
The Coalition for Green Capital has been the advocate of green bank creation since its founding in 2010. Currently there are 22 green banks in 16 states and the District and 21 more green banks in the pipeline. Most recently green banks were created in Maine and Colorado. Legislation to fund them at necessary scale is pending in the House (H.R. 806, a bipartisan Clean Energy & Sustainability Accelerator introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Rep. Don Young (R-AK) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and (S. 283, creating a National Climate Bank, introduced by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey and Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen).
ABOUT COALITION FOR GREEN CAPITAL
The Coalition for Green Capital (@CGreenCapital) is a non-profit with a mission to halt climate change by accelerating investment in clean energy technologies and by advocating for, creating and implementing green bank institutions. Green banks are a proven finance model that uses public and philanthropic funds to mobilize private investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and other decarbonization technologies. For over a decade, the Coalition for Green Capital has led the Green Bank movement, working at the federal, state and local level in the U.S. and in countries around the world.
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