In New England, 91% of women say they are concerned about rising energy costs, though many are unfamiliar with the policies driving those increases and are divided over who is responsible, according to a new poll.
The poll, commissioned by the Independent Women’s Forum and conducted by Wick Insights, surveyed women likely to vote in the midterms across New England — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Out of a sample size of 3,000, 82% of women reported paying more for energy than they were five years ago and 65% noted that they personally handle the household electricity bills.
Despite widespread concern over rising energy costs, many of the women polled were unfamiliar with the Democratic-led state policies contributing to higher bills. Fifty-six percent said they did not know enough about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to comment on it, and respondents were split over what was driving the increases, though the largest share — 27% —blamed utilities.
Director of the Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation Gabriella Hoffman told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Winter Storm Fern demonstrated how fossil fuels and nuclear energy continue to anchor America’s grid. Hoffman noted the polling showed New England women generally favor a diverse energy mix over a 100% renewable approach. The poll was conducted from December 4 to 15, before the winter storm.
“Despite expressing support for renewable energy, many New Englanders believe lawmakers mislead them about the cost and effectiveness of climate policies. Their frustration is warranted,” Hoffman told the DCNF. “This poll presents a unique educational opportunity and how best to promote energy affordability going forward.”
New England Poll_Regional (1) by audreystreb
The polling included 500 completed interviews conducted through mobile interviews and online panels, at 75% and 25%, respectively. The estimated margin of error is ±1.8 percentage points for the full sample and ±4.4 points for each state sample, at the 95% confidence level.
The New England Women’s Energy Survey found that only 14% of respondents blamed state policy for rising energy costs — a disconnect Hoffman told the DCNF reflects a broader lack of awareness about how state energy policies affect electricity prices. Hoffman also noted that over 50% of women surveyed reported feeling misled by climate policies though they generally support them.
“Because there’s a higher trust in blue-state politicians [in the region], many women don’t question the policies until they see price increases on their bills,” Hoffman said. “A lot of the higher prices accrued through RGGI, which is a carbon tax, eventually trickle down to the ratepayer.”
RGGI is a cap-and-trade program in the Northeast that limits regional power plant emissions and requires power generators to purchase allowances at auctions for the carbon dioxide they emit. Several analyses show RGGI compliance costs are passed through to consumers, with one estimate from the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy projecting ratepayers could pay roughly $500 million annually for participation in Virginia alone.
“As New England charts forward with 100% green energy mandates, women are very concerned about rising electricity costs in the region,” Hoffman told the DCNF, and the Center notes that all six New England states have renewable portfolio or clean energy standards, and several have set for 100% renewable energy mandates.
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), which over 30% of women surveyed said they were unfamiliar with, require utilities to obtain a set portion of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Critics like Hoffman argue RPS programs drive up consumer costs.
“Climate policies are going to run into a problem of not being affordable,” Hoffman told the DCNF, adding that “while these renewable policies may feel good and sound good, there is no renewable energy transition happening — Winter Storm Fern shows that.”
With Winter Storm Fern raging, “renewables barely make a dent in the resource mix, and over the weekend we saw petroleum oil supplying between 33% and 36% of electricity generation,” Hoffman said. “Fossil fuels are king — and nuclear as well — those are what are essentially keeping New England warm right now. … These intermittent, weather-dependent sources cannot meet the needs of the moment to keep your house warm and the lights on.”
“We’re hoping that the polling and our work for the Center this year could help elucidate some of the energy realities to women, and I think we can do that and educate them sufficiently,” Hoffman told the DCNF.
In New England, 91% of women say they are concerned about rising energy costs, though many are unfamiliar with the policies driving those increases and are divided over who is responsible, according to a new poll.
The poll, commissioned by the Independent Women’s Forum and conducted by Wick Insights, surveyed women likely to vote in the midterms across New England — Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Out of a sample size of 3,000, 82% of women reported paying more for energy than they were five years ago and 65% noted that they personally handle the household electricity bills.
Despite widespread concern over rising energy costs, many of the women polled were unfamiliar with the Democratic-led state policies contributing to higher bills. Fifty-six percent said they did not know enough about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to comment on it, and respondents were split over what was driving the increases, though the largest share — 27% —blamed utilities.
Director of the Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation Gabriella Hoffman told the Daily Caller News Foundation that Winter Storm Fern demonstrated how fossil fuels and nuclear energy continue to anchor America’s grid, Hoffman noted the polling showed New England women generally favor a diverse energy mix over a 100% renewable approach. The poll was conducted from December 4 to 15, before the winter storm.
“Despite expressing support for renewable energy, many New Englanders believe lawmakers mislead them about the cost and effectiveness of climate policies. Their frustration is warranted,” Hoffman told the DCNF. “This poll presents a unique educational opportunity and how best to promote energy affordability going forward.” (RELATED: Fossil Fuels Fight To Keep America Warm This International Clean Energy Day)
New England Poll_Regional (1) by audreystreb
The polling included 500 completed interviews conducted through mobile interviews and online panels, at 75% and 25%, respectively. The estimated margin of error is ±1.8 percentage points for the full sample and ±4.4 points for each state sample, at the 95% confidence level.
The New England Women’s Energy Survey found that only 14% of respondents blamed state policy for rising energy costs — a disconnect Hoffman told the DCNF reflects a broader lack of awareness about how state energy policies affect electricity prices. Hoffman also noted that over 50% of women surveyed reported feeling misled by climate policies though they generally support them.
“Because there’s a higher trust in blue-state politicians [in the region], many women don’t question the policies until they see price increases on their bills,” Hoffman said. “A lot of the higher prices accrued through RGGI, which is a carbon tax, eventually trickle down to the ratepayer.”
RGGI is a cap-and-trade program in the Northeast that limits regional power plant emissions and requires power generators to purchase allowances at auctions for the carbon dioxide they emit. Several analyses show RGGI compliance costs are passed through to consumers, with one estimate from the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy projecting ratepayers could pay roughly $500 million annually for participation in Virginia alone.
“As New England charts forward with 100% green energy mandates, women are very concerned about rising electricity costs in the region,” Hoffman told the DCNF, and the Center notes that all six New England states have renewable portfolio or clean energy standards, and several have set for 100% renewable energy mandates.
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), which over 30% of women surveyed said they were unfamiliar with, require utilities to obtain a set portion of their electricity from renewable energy sources. Critics like Hoffman argue RPS programs drive up consumer costs.
“Climate policies are going to run into a problem of not being affordable,” Hoffman told the DCNF, adding that “while these renewable policies may feel good and sound good, there is no renewable energy transition happening — Winter Storm Fern shows that.”
With Winter Storm Fern raging, “renewables barely make a dent in the resource mix, and over the weekend we saw petroleum oil supplying between 33% and 36% of electricity generation,” Hoffman said. “Fossil fuels are king — and nuclear as well — those are what are essentially keeping New England warm right now. … These intermittent, weather-dependent sources cannot meet the needs of the moment to keep your house warm and the lights on.”
“We’re hoping that the polling and our work for the Center this year could help elucidate some of the energy realities to women, and I think we can do that and educate them sufficiently,” Hoffman told the DCNF.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
