Colorado Small Business Owners Support Government Investments in Clean Energy and EPA Clean Air Standards
Small businesses account for a significant share of Colorado’s economy. For every one large business in Colorado, there are 179 small businesses diligently working to reenergize the state’s economy: Small firms make up 99% of the state’s employers. These entrepreneurs are doing everything they can to hire, grow and move their businesses and the state’s economy forward. As part of these efforts, recent scientific opinion polling shows that Colorado’s entrepreneurs want pragmatic, innovative policies that help guide them into a competitive, modern clean energy economy.
Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) say government investments in clean energy play an important role in creating jobs and boosting the economy, and a majority of owners (61%) agree government should continue investing in renewable energy despite the failure of Solyndra, a renewable energy company that received a $535 million federal loan guarantee prior to filing for bankruptcy.
Key Findings
Colorado small business owners believe government investments in clean energy have an important role in boosting our national economy and creating jobs: 72% of respondents believe it is important government continues to invest in clean energy, while only 28% say government investments in clean energy and energy efficiency are a waste of money.
Small businesses believe government investments in clean energy will create jobs now
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.
Despite the failure of Solyndra, small businesses do not believe government should stop investing in renewable energy technologies: The majority of small business owners (61%) agree the failure of Solyndra—which received a $535 million loan guarantee from the federal government—doesn’t mean government should stop investing in renewable energy technologies. However, 3 out of 4 small business owners favor ending government subsidies to oil and gas companies.
Owners support renewable energy despite Solyndra’s failure
Should the failure of Solyndra mean the government should stop investing in renewable energy technologies, like solar and wind?
Entrepreneurs believe government should play a role in creating financial incentives that encourage people to take energy efficiency measures: The vast majority (74%) of Colorado small business owners believe 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 business owners believe government should provide incentives through funding and policy efforts: 73% support encouraging renewable energy technologies, while 68% support encouraging clean energy technologies.
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.