By Rob Moritz
Arkansas News Bureau
LITTLE ROCK — A new poll shows Arkansans overwhelmingly support new standards for renewable energy sources, environmental groups said Wednesday.
The groups suggested the results could breathe new life into climate change proposals that failed in this year’s legislative session and spur the state’s Congressional delegation to support a national clean energy bill now before the House.
“Arkansans want more renewable energy and they are way ahead of lawmakers when it comes to energy efficiency,” Ken Smith, director of Audubon Arkansas, said at a news conference announcing poll results. “It’s clear Arkansans are engaged and supportive of new climate and energy legislation.”
The poll, commissioned by Smith’s group, showed 81 percent of respondents said they support new standards for renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
New York City-based Beneson Strategy Group conducted the telephone poll of 600 registered voters May 7-11. The poll’s margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.
Also during the news conference, state Rep. Kathy Webb, D-Little Rock, said in 2011 she would make another run a passing renewable energy and energy efficiency proposals rejected by the Legislature this year.
“We are not going to compromise, we are going to be more aggressive and we’re going to get those bills passed,” said Webb, who is co-chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming, which has proposed sweeping changes to Arkansas energy policy aimed at reducing the state’s contribution to climate change.
One of the bills Webb said she plans to refile in 2011 would require an electric utility to purchase some of its electricity from a renewable energy producer.
Another would establish energy savings goals for utility companies and would allow utilities to be reimbursed through the state Public Service Commission for money they spend to reduce the amount of power they need to serve their customers.
Both measures died in a House committee.
Among opponents of the legislation was Southwestern Electric Power Co., which is seeking to build a $1.6 billion, 600 megawatt coal-fired power plan in Hempstead County. Audobon Arkansas other environmental groups have opposed the plant.
SWEPCO spokesman Kay Holt said Wednesday the company supports using renewable energy sources but wants to make sure any legislative proposals make sense.
“We just want to make sure they are realistic, achievable goals,” Holt said, adding that SWEPCO recently entered into a long-term wind energy contract with Texas-based Majestic Wind Power.
“We’re certainly engaged in the Arkansas energy efficiency initiatives,” she said.
Other results of the poll showed:
- 81 percent support an energy efficiency resource standard, which would require electricity and natural gas utilities to use energy efficiency measures to reduce energy usage.
- 63 percent of respondents said they support a “cap and trade” system to reduce harmful carbon emissions.
- 68 percent said energy independence from foreign energy sources was their top priority in energy policy, while 41 percent said it was saving consumers money and 33 percent said it was reducing energy use.
The news conference was held at Little Rock’s Dunbar Community Center, where environmental groups plan to erect a wind turbine to power the facility.
“This is Central Arkansas’ first wind turbine,” said Rob Fisher, director of the Ecological Conservation Organization, which is heading the effort to erect the wind turbine.
The structure, projected to be in operation in a few weeks, is 45 feet tall and has a 12-foot rotor. The turbine will have a special meter that connections to Entergy Arkansas’ energy grid. Fisher said any excess energy produced will go into the electric utility’s energy grid.
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