Around half of the registered voters in four New England states support constructing more natural gas pipelines to help reduce power generation costs and consumers’ electric bills in the region, results of a poll that the Consumer Energy Alliance released on June 20 suggested.
The June 6-8 telephone survey, by Washington-based Hickman Analytics Inc., of 513 registered voters in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire found that:
• 88% believe having sufficient gas supplies is important to keep electricity and home heating affordable.
• 76% support using gas to generate electricity.
• 74% agree that “a balanced mix of renewables, natural gas, and nuclear is important to keep electricity affordable and reliable.”
• 70% recognize that electricity prices are higher in the US Northeast than the rest of the country.
• 53% believe state governments should support pipeline construction to maintain fuel supplies, hold down prices, create jobs and boost economic development.
• And 50% believe states should support construction of gas pipelines and local distribution systems to make power generation more efficient and economic, compared to 39% of the respondents who oppose the idea.
“Northeastern governors, legislators, and regulators should pay close attention to these results,” CEA President David Holt said. “Families, small businesses, and manufacturers in these states are struggling with exorbitant electric rates and need vital pipeline infrastructure to protect their livelihoods and keep the economy moving.”
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].