Michigan Small Business Owners Support Government Investments in Clean Energy and Enforcement of EPA Rules

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
Date: 
Thursday, July 12, 2012

Small businesses account for a significant share of Michigan’s economy. For every one large business in Michigan, there are 266 small businesses diligently working to reenergize the state’s economy. These entrepreneurs are doing everything they can to hire, grow and move their businesses forward. As part of these efforts, recent scientific opinion polling shows that Michigan’s entrepreneurs want pragmatic, innovative policies that help guide them into a competitive, modern clean energy economy. For instance, 79% of Michigan small business owners support setting standards that require utilities to meet a certain percentage of energy demand through renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and bio-fuels.

The majority (74%) of respondents also say government investments in clean energy play an important role in creating jobs and boosting the economy, and a majority of owners agree the government should continue investing in renewable energy despite the failure of Solyndra—a company that received a $535 million federal loan guarantee prior to filing for bankruptcy.

Key Findings

Michigan small business owners believe government investments in clean energy have an important role in boosting our national economy and creating jobs: 74% of respondents believe it is important government continues to invest in clean energy, while only 26% 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 (62%) agree the failure of Solyndra—which received a $535 million loan guarantee from the federal government prior to filing for bankruptcy—doesn’t mean government should stop investing in renewable energy technologies. However, 83% 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?

Government should play a role in creating financial incentives that encourage people to take energy efficiency measures: A strong majority (77%) of Michigan 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. Almost eight out of 10 business owners believe government should provide incentives through funding and policy efforts—77% support encouraging renewable energy technologies while 79% 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.

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