MEMORANDUM
T O:
AWEA
FROM:
Gotham Research Group
SUBJECT:
National Survey Findings
DATE:
November 25, 2014
Below is an overview of the key findings from a national telephone survey of registered
voters conducted on behalf of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
Key Findings
The Production Tax Credit


There is strong agreement across the country that the Production Tax Credit should be
extended (Q2 – see Appendix).
–
The overwhelming majority (73%) of voters support keeping the PTC in place – and
more than four in ten (42%) are strongly supportive of the PTC.
–
Just 19% of voters say they would oppose extending the credit – and only 12%
report being “strongly opposed” to the extension.
Support for the PTC extends to voters of all regions of residence and
partisan/demographic backgrounds, including self-identified Republicans and
Independents.
–
There is strong support for the PTC extension across the partisan spectrum – with
self-identified Democrats the most supportive (83%), followed by Independents
(74%) and Republicans (63%).
–
A strong majority of voters also support the PTC extension in each region of the
country – Northeast (83%), Midwest (72%), South (71%), and West (71%).
Incentives for Investment in Wind Energy

Voters are also strongly inclined to agree with the argument that incentives for
investment in wind energy (a) help American workers and (b) lead to American energy
independence (Q1 – see Appendix).
–
Close to eight in ten (79%) agree with the statement that “incentives for investment
in wind energy help American workers make more of our own energy right here in
America,” with close to half (49%) expressing “strong” agreement.
–
Just 14% disagree with the statement – and only 7% “strongly disagree.”
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
As with support for the PTC, the belief that incentives are beneficial to American workers
and promote energy independence extends to voters across the country.
–
More than eight in ten self-identified Democrats (88%) and Independents (81%) as
well as 69% of Republicans believe that incentives are beneficial.
–
More than three-quarters of voters in each region of the country are also in
agreement – Northeast (81%), Midwest (77%), South (82%), and West (75%).
Methodological Overview
The findings described in this memo are based on a survey conducted on behalf of the
American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). The survey was conducted from November 20th
through 23rd, 2014 among a representative sample of 1,015 adults, 18+ living in the
continental United States, including a sample of 832 registered voters.

The margin of error on the sample of 1,015 adults, 18+ is +/- 3.1%.

The margin of error on the sample of 832 registered voters is +/- 3.4%.
The study was conducted using two probability samples: randomly selected landline
telephone numbers and randomly selected mobile (cell) telephone numbers.

The overall sample results were weighted demographically and geographically based
on the most recent data provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
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Appendix: Question Wording and Topline Results
Key Definitions
Region - The “Northeast” (NE) region includes ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA; the “Midwest” (MW) region
includes OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, MO, ND, SD, NE, KS; the “South” region includes DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, NC,
SC, GA, FL, KY, TN, AL, MS, AK, LA, OK, TX; the “West” region includes MT, ID, WY, CO, NM, AZ, UT, NV, WA, OR,
CA.
Partisanship - Partisanship is based on responses to the question, “In politics, as of today, do you consider
yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent? Do you lean more toward the Democratic Party or to the
Republican Party?”
Note: All the numbers are presented as percentages and, due to rounding, may not add up to 100%.
1.
Please tell me whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “incentives for
investment in wind energy help American workers make more of our own energy right here in
America.” [IF AGREE/DISAGREE, ASK:] Would you say you strongly agree/disagree or
somewhat agree/disagree?
Sample of
Adults, 18+
Sample of Registered Voters
Total
Total
NE
MW
South
West
48%
49%
55%
44%
52%
41%
31%
30%
26%
33%
29%
33%
8%
7%
6%
10%
7%
6%
Strongly disagree
6%
7%
8%
5%
5%
9%
Neither
6%
6%
4%
7%
5%
7%
2%
2%
1%
1%
1%
3%
79%
14%
79%
14%
81%
14%
77%
15%
82%
12%
75%
15%
Strongly agree
Somewhat agree
Somewhat disagree
DK/RF
Net: Agree
Net: Disagree
Sample of Registered Voters
Total
Dem
Indep
Rep
Female
Male
Strongly agree
49%
58%
51%
38%
49%
48%
Somewhat agree
30%
30%
30%
31%
32%
28%
Somewhat disagree
7%
3%
9%
12%
6%
9%
Strongly disagree
7%
2%
3%
12%
4%
10%
Neither
6%
5%
5%
6%
7%
4%
DK/RF
2%
2%
1%
1%
2%
1%
79%
14%
88%
5%
81%
12%
69%
24%
81%
9%
76%
19%
Net: Agree
Net: Disagree
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Gotham Research Group | 99 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York, 10013
2.
As you may know, the government currently provides a basic tax incentive for investment in
wind energy – this tax incentive is called the Production Tax Credit.
Do you support or oppose keeping the Production Tax Credit in place so that investment in
wind energy can continue? [IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE, ASK:] Would you say you strongly
support/oppose keeping the Production Tax Credit in place, or somewhat support/oppose it?
Sample of
Adults, 18+
Sample of Registered Voters
Total
Total
NE
MW
South
West
39%
42%
47%
39%
42%
41%
Somewhat support
33%
31%
35%
33%
29%
30%
Somewhat oppose
7%
7%
4%
9%
7%
7%
13%
12%
8%
12%
13%
14%
6%
5%
4%
6%
6%
4%
3%
3%
1%
2%
4%
3%
71%
19%
73%
19%
83%
12%
72%
20%
71%
20%
71%
21%
Strongly support
Strongly oppose
Neither
DK/RF
Net: Support
Net: Oppose
Sample of Registered Voters
Total
Dem
Indep
Rep
Female
Male
Strongly support
42%
55%
40%
29%
42%
41%
Somewhat support
31%
28%
34%
34%
33%
29%
Somewhat oppose
7%
4%
10%
10%
6%
7%
12%
5%
11%
19%
8%
17%
Neither
5%
5%
2%
5%
6%
4%
DK/RF
3%
2%
3%
3%
4%
1%
73%
19%
83%
9%
74%
21%
63%
29%
75%
15%
70%
24%
Strongly oppose
Net: Support
Net: Oppose
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Gotham Research Group | 99 Hudson Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York, 10013