Survey: Most South Carolina Small Business Owners SupportClimate, Energy Bill That U.S. Senators Graham And Demint May Vote On

COLUMBIA, S.C. - July 15, 2010 -- A clear majority of South Carolina small business owners support the clean energy climate legislation that will be taken up in the United States Senate over the next three weeks, according to a major Public Policy Polling survey of 711 small business owners across a three-state region consisting of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

The poll conducted for Small Business Majority and Main Street Alliance included 105 South Carolina small business operators and was conducted July 7-10, 2010. Key South findings include:

• 57 percent of small business owners in South Carolina support the bill being debated in Washington right now compared to only 31 percent who are opposed.
• 68 percent of small business owners think that moving the country to clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs. Owners of South Carolina businesses with fewer than 10 employees are particularly optimistic that a shift in energy sources will help spur job creation.
• 59 percent of South Carolina small business owners agree that adopting new energy policies will transform the economy and want their businesses to be part of the revitalization, compared with 21 percent who don't.
• 68 percent of business owners think America should focus on maximizing the value of the energy we use and invest in clean energy while just 24 percent think the country should keep subsidizing oil companies.

Dustin Ingalls, assistant director, Public Policy Polling, Raleigh, N.C., said: Small business owners in South Carolina strongly believe the country needs to move toward clean energy and that new energy policies will transform the economy and help them create new jobs. They support comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation currently being discussed in the US Senate. Support for a climate and energy bill from Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint would be a winner with small business owners back home. 

"Clean energy and climate legislation will have a huge impact on our country's future, both economically and ecologically, and South Carolina small business owners clearly understand this," said John Arensmeyer, founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. "A majority believe moving the country to clean energy is a smart way to restart the economy and help small businesses create jobs."

Eric Engler, owner, Velocity Motorcycles, Richmond, VA, said: I see the issue of clean energy as critical to the future success and prosperity of small businesses here in our state. It's critical to creating jobs and re-energizing local economies. That's why, as a small business owner, I support policies that will spur the development of clean energy sources, create green jobs, promote energy efficiency, and protect our air and water. We have to face facts: our country's dependence on dirty energy threatens the economic future of small businesses. The BP spill has illustrated this reality in the starkest of terms. But charting a new energy future is important to small businesses not only in the Gulf, but all across America.

According to the South Carolina survey findings, small business owner support for the bill will increase even further if it includes several tools to help them take advantage of new developments in clean energy. This includes interest free loans to help them make energy efficiency upgrades, free energy audits to help them learn how to reduce usage and save money, and consultation on how they can profit from the emerging clean energy industry.

For the full survey findings, go to http://www.smallbusinessmajority.org on the Web.