Independents Support Federal Investment in “Green Jobs” 2-to-1 Despite Solyndra Media Storm

[kristopher]

Wake Up Democrats: Independents Support Federal Investment in “Green Jobs” 2-to-1 Despite Solyndra Media Storm

In dozens of focus groups we have conducted this month across the country on a wide variety of subjects, when voters are asked where they would like new jobs in their state to come from, the first words out of their mouths are almost always the same – clean energy and related technology. Voters believe that the clean energy economy is here and is growing, and they want their state to have a part of it.

As the Wall Street Journal reported today, “The Solyndra episode has generated reams of press coverage and fodder for political speeches, but this hasn’t changed voters views on clean energy, new research from a pair of Democratic and Republican pollsters suggests.”



Note that the language explicitly talks about public investment to create “clean energy jobs” or “green jobs.” The poll itself is here, and concluded:

...

The numbers are 60% to 32% for independents. Heck, the numbers are 63% to 31% for “Republicans who do not identify with the Tea Party.” The numbers are also 56% to 35% for all GOP women. What does that tell you about the tea party?..

More at:
http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/09/29/331668/independents-support-federal-investment-in-green-jobs/

[pinto]

1. Solyndra collpse seemed as much about corporate mismanagement and poor choice of technology tools

iirc. I'm in CA and support for solar remains strong.

[kristopher]

2. No one could have predicted the amount of money China decided to invest in solar mfg.

That is what drove the price of standard solar so low that Solyndra couldn't follow their business plan. I believe we'll see something similar to their technology re-emerge once the market for standard panels is more mature. After prices are as low as they are going to go for the standard panels, manufacturers will start looking for ways to differentiate themselves; Solyndra's approach will probably get some attention at that time.