Energy efficiency important to voters – Poll shows 93 percent want state to save more power in Washington State

Nine out of 10 Washington voters support increased use of renewable energy sources and improving energy efficiency, according to a new poll.

Alison Boggs
Staff writer Spokesman Review

"Support for these proposals is both wide and deep," said Ernest Paicopolos, principal of Opinion Dynamic Corp. of Cambridge, Mass., during a news conference Wednesday morning. The company conducted a random sample of 600 registered voters in September. The poll has a margin of error of 4 percent.

The poll showed 93 percent of voters statewide and 95 percent in Spokane County support using more renewable energy sources. Some 95 percent statewide, and 93 percent in Spokane County, favor increased energy-efficiency measures.

The Renew Washington Campaign requested the assessment of voter attitudes on energy issues and a proposed bill called the Energy Portfolio Standard in the upcoming legislative session.

The bill would set goals for electric utilities to gradually increase the amount of energy they acquire from resources such as wind, biomass, geothermal and solar power. It would also set targets for reducing the energy their customers use through efficiency programs and the promotion of energy-saving appliances and lighting.

Under the bill, utilities would meet 5 percent of their customers’ power needs with renewables by 2010, 10 percent by 2015 and 15 percent by 2023.

The poll showed 62 percent of voters statewide support the legislation, compared with 67 percent in Spokane County. Those who support it say they believe it will create jobs, help stabilize power rates and create income for farmers who lease their land for wind turbines.

However, state Rep. Larry Crouse, R-Spokane Valley, said he’s concerned that mandating utilities to provide renewable sources of energy will drive customers’ bills up and be bad for business in an already-tough economy.

"We in government don’t have all the answers. We require businesses to do a lot of stupid things. The customer pays for all our mistakes," Crouse said.

Crouse prefers the "green option" — existing legislation that requires utilities to provide renewable energy sources if their customers ask for and are willing to pay for them.

The people polled who opposed the legislation also expressed concern that the measure will end up costing consumers more money. However, another poll conducted by Grove Insight of Portland shows that seven in 10 Washington residents support the legislation even with short-term rate increases because they believe it will save them money long-term.

But Crouse said if people really aren’t worried about higher costs, more of them would be calling their utilities and ordering wind power. Less than 1 percent of Avista’s customers have purchased wind power since the utility began offering it in January 2002.

Renew Washington is a coalition of organizations, businesses, farmers, developers and consumer advocates working to pass the legislation. The bill was introduced in the 2003 session, but did not pass.

Ann Gravatt, representing Renew Washington, said Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Anacortes, chairman of the House Committee on Technology, Telecommunications and Energy, has expressed support for introducing the legislation.

Renew Washington also is talking to utilities, including Avista Corp., hoping to move forward with legislation the companies can support, Gravatt said.

In May, Avista Utilities announced that it will include wind power for the first time in its regular resource mix. Beginning in 2008, the company will use up to 75 megawatts of wind, enough to power 48,000 homes and businesses.

"Right now, wind power is not cost-competitive," said Catherine Markson, an Avista spokeswoman. "But it’s coming down, and that’s good news."

•Business writer Alison Boggs can be reached at (509) 927-2150 or by e-mail at [email protected]

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