New Poll: Solar Energy Could Push Independent Voters in Critical Swing States

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Mar 22, 2016, 01:00 ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Independent voters in key swing states would be more likely to vote for a Republican candidate who vocally supported solar energy, according to a new poll by Public Opinion Strategies. When asked about the impact of a Republican candidate showing more vocal support for solar, over a quarter (27%) of voters who are notoriously hard to move said this would make them more likely to support that candidate. Polling shows that both Democratic candidates currently have an edge over Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.

Fully 90% of voters polled favor increasing the use of solar energy, while just 7% oppose it. More than half (58%) strongly favor increasing the use of solar energy.

"Independent swing state voters may pick the next President. This poll shows solar energy is a key issue that could motivate them in November," said Tyson Grinstead, spokesperson for The Alliance for Solar Choice and former Political Director for South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. "In a particularly contentious election cycle, both parties should pay attention to any issue that can move this critical voting block."

Across demographic types, independent swing state voters were in favor of increasing solar energy to promote competition, increase jobs, and decrease electricity rates. 89% of respondents thought America could benefit from new jobs created by the growing solar industry in their state. 88% agreed that opportunity for homeowners to adopt solar energy is an important part of providing choice and competition in the American electricity market. 77% of independent voters agreed that a growing solar power market in America will help keep electricity rates down for consumers.

Public Opinion Strategies conducted the survey of 600 independent voters in eleven key swing states: Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Alliance for Solar Choice commissioned the poll.