Energy and the 2012 Election - Survey To Show Most Americans Do Not Support Washington's Focus on Fossil Fuels & Nuclear Power at the Expense of Clean Energy

Major Poll Tests Questions:  Is There an "Old Fuel Constituency" Supporting Politicians Who Promote Fossil Fuels/Nuclear Power and Often "Trash" Wind and Solar Power? Or, Are Such Views Relatively Scarce Among Voters … Even When it Comes to Tea Party Supporters?

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the 2012 elections draw closer, a new national survey will explore the question of whether or not mainstream America supports the push in the U.S. House and by the White House to promote oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear power often at the expense of wind and solar energy?  Or, is there no such thing as what might be called an "Old Fuel Constituency" among voters – even in the ranks of those who are self-described Tea Party supporters?    

These are among the questions tackled in a new survey of 1,049 Americans conducted October 21-24, 2011 by ORC International for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI) that will show most Americans – including an often surprisingly large share of Tea Party supporters – are not on the same page as some in Congress and at the White House when it comes to energy issues, including clean energy development, federal investments in energy, increased reliance on nuclear power through a so-called "clean energy standard," related water consumption/pollution issues, and much more.

The 100-percent independent CSI think tank receives no direct or indirect support of any kind from any natural gas industry interest, or any other energy-related company, organization or related individual.

WHO:           

• Pam Solo, founder and president, Civil Society Institute;
• Graham Hueber, senior researcher, ORC International; and
• Grant Smith, senior energy advisor, Civil Society Institute.

WHEN:
Thursday, November 3, 2011.

TIME:
11:00 a.m. EDT

CALL-IN INFORMATION: You can join this live, phone-based news conference (with full, two-way Q&A) at 11 a.m. EDT on November 3, 2011 by dialing 1 (800) 860-2442. Ask for the "'Old Fuel Constituency survey" news event.

CAN'T PARTICIPATE?:   A streaming audio replay of the news event will be available on the Web at www.civilsocietyinstitute.org as of 3 p.m. EDT on November 3, 2011.

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (http://www.CivilSocietyInstitute.org) is a think tank that serves as a catalyst for change by creating problem-solving interactions among people, and between communities, government and business that can help to improve society.   Since 2003, CSI has conducted more than 25 major national and state-level surveys on a range of issues including climate change, coal, nuclear, global warming, wind and other renewable energy, vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, consumer demand for hybrids/other highly-fuel efficient vehicles, and gas prices.  In addition to being a co-convener of CLEAN (www.TheClean.org), CSI also is the parent organization of the Hybrid Owners of America (http://www.HybridOwnersofAmerica.org).    

SOURCE Civil Society Institute, Newton, MA