Support for 'Clean Coal' as Energy Source Growing

LIVONIA, Mich., Dec. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- More than six out of ten Americans believe that the U.S. energy industry should increase its investments in "clean coal" power plants to meet energy demand over the next several decades, according to results from the latest Market Strategies International E2 (Energy + Environment) Study.  Support is wide-spread among segments except for those identified as "Ultra Green," who typically are anti-industry and have very strong beliefs that global warming is occurring, is human-caused, and is a serious threat.

Market Strategies' E2 (Energy + Environment) Study is a national survey designed to gain an understanding of Americans' attitudes and opinions about energy and energy-related issues.

"It's interesting to see the growth in acceptance of 'clean coal,'" said Jack Lloyd, a vice president in the Energy Division at Market Strategies.  "The coal industry has done a remarkable job communicating the value and abundance of coal.  It also has worked hard to convince skeptics that it is committed to finding solutions to global warming."

The majority of respondents believe utility companies should tailor their investments to support environmentally-friendly technologies.  They believe utilities should be selective in the approaches they rely on in the future, listing them in order of preference as:

• 83 percent -- renewable energy -- Solar power, wind, geothermal, hydro and biomass.
• 79 percent -- energy efficiency -- Saving electricity through increased efficiency.
• 63 percent -- clean coal -- Technically capable of producing electricity with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions but at significant cost.  
• 56 percent -- nuclear plants -- Reliable, expensive to build but efficient to operate; among the lowest-cost ways to generate electricity.
• 43 percent -- natural gas -- Proven, dependable and easy to operate.
• 15 percent -- traditional coal plants -- Major source of greenhouse gases.

About E2: Energy + Environment Survey

This latest version represents the ninth wave of the long-term survey.  For this most recent version, Market Strategies interviewed a national sample of 1,168 adults between October 14 and October 25, 2010.  Respondents were recruited via an online panel to reflect key demographic characteristics of the U.S. population.  The data also were weighted by age, gender, race/ethnicity and census region to bring the sample into alignment with the U.S. Census.

Market Strategies International

Market Strategies International is a market research and consulting firm specializing in communications, energy, financial services, healthcare and technology.  Our expertise includes Customer Experience Management, Product Development and Optimization, Segmentation, Messaging and Communications Testing and Brand Development and Positioning.  Founded in 1989, Market Strategies is the 17th largest research firm in the U.S. according to "Honomichl Top 50," published in the June 2010 issue of Marketing News.  Visit www.marketstrategies.com for more information.

SOURCE Market Strategies International