Solar Survey Encouraging

Yesterday, SCHOTT released the results of a poll , conducted by Kelton Research, asking Americans what they think about the role of solar energy in this country. Turns out, pretty much everyone thinks it’s integral to our future. I’m going to quote some results directly from SCHOTT’s site:

• 98% of Independents, 97% of Democrats, and 91% of Republicans support development of solar
• 74% of Independents, 72% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans favor extension of Federal tax credits for renewable technologies
• 77% of Americans feel Federal government should make solar power development a national priority

Great news, right? Well, it is, but I have some reservations about the data.

First: this survey was conducted over a matter of a couple of days (May 29 through June 2); respondents were requested via email to complete an online survey. I realize that most people in this country do have personal computers and access to the internet, but it surely limits the responses of some populations, especially given the remarkably brief response period.

Second: a link to a solar fact sheet was provided, which would have been a bit more helpful to the average layperson if said facts had been set in any context at all. I talk to people every day who have questions about solar energy, and their questions tend to start at a very basic level. This fact sheet, to me, reads as a very good synthesis of why solar energy is so important…but it hardly presents a well-rounded view: discussion of cost is notably omitted. I think solar energy is vital to this country’s future, but I think that because I have had the opportunity to examine the negative and positive aspects of the burgeoning industry, and choose for myself. If I knew nothing about renewables and had only this fact sheet to go by, well of course I would jump on the bandwagon!

I’m glad that this information has been disseminated, and I’m glad people are coming to the “right” conclusion. I just wish the survey had been more in-depth and more transparent: in their section on “Methodology”, nowhere does SCHOTT list the actual number of respondents, stated as a cold figure or expressed as a percentage of the population. Not even a hint. For all I know, this could be a case of “1 in 3 dentists recommend Crest” where only three dentists were asked for their opinion.

Americans should know about the enormous potential for solar in this country. I want them to overwhelmingly support investment and growth in the nascent industry so that our next president, whoever he is, will have no choice but to listen to the people. And if Americans were presented with all the facts and not just a select few, they would still come to the conclusion that really, renewable energy is the way to go; as Alexander Pope once said, a little learning is a dangerous thing. If you’re reading this, you’re someone who cares about making informed decisions about renewable energy. Encourage your friends to read about it and learn; bring it up at an office lunch. Spread the word. The better informed we are as a nation, the better our choices will be when it comes time to vote, either on a ballot or in that most revered of American methods–with our dollars.