FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NYS Sustainable Business Council: Hilary Baum, hilarybaum@baumforum.org, 718-884-5716 or, American Sustainable Business Council: Bob Keener, bkeener@asbcouncil.org, 617-610-6766
New Poll of Small Business Owners Reveals Strong Bipartisan Support for Clean, Safe Energy and Environmental Stewardship
**Business Leaders and Small Business Owners Available for Comment**
June 27, 2013, Washington, D.C. A national, scientific poll shows that small business owners across party lines support safer, cleaner, more efficient and renewable energy.
The poll, which asked a range of energy and environment questions, including some about President Obama’s climate proposals announced this week, was commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), a business policy group of which the New York State Sustainable Business Council (NYSSBC) is a partner organization.
Hilary Baum, a founding member of NYSSBC, said: “Across the state, many within the New York business community have shown there is a groundswell of support to stay away from toxic chemicals and dirty energy like fracking and to make the transition to safer, cleaner energy that is renewable and will generate jobs. The findings of the poll confirm that smart policy and transparency are seen by business as an integral part of the transition.”
Steve Hindy, CEO, Brooklyn Brewery and aligned with Businesses Against Fracking New York, said, “I am not surprised the poll found significant support among small business owners for the EPA to require disclosure of chemicals used in fracking. As brewers, we are 
dependent on pure fresh water and hops and grains grown in uncontaminated soil. Beer is a product of nature.”
Mary Cleaver, CEO, Cleaver Co & Green Table, member of Chefs for the Marcellus, said, “I own a business focused on improving the health of the food supply. It terrifies me to know that natural gas fueling our ranges may be contributing to the destruction of our watershed, farmland, and regional food and farm economy. It is vitally important that we develop solutions to smart clean energy that will preserve our natural resources and the health of our nation.”
Richard Eidlin, Director of Public Policy for ASBC said, “Large majorities of small business owners want the country to focus on energy development that is clean and renewable. Whether Republican, Democratic or Independent, they want the government to promote energy efficiency and clean technologies and don’t want our tax dollars to continue subsidizing coal, oil and gas.”
The poll, conducted by Lake Research, was designed to gauge opinions on several policy issues currently under consideration in states and in Washington, DC.
The telephone survey included 47% Republican, 14% Independent and 27% Democratic business owners.
Key findings are:
- 79% of small business owners support increasing energy efficiency by 50% over the next ten years.
- 72% of small business owners think incentives for clean energy are a priority.
- 63% of small business owners support EPA efforts to limit carbon dioxide emissions of power plants.
- 62% of small business owners oppose continuing subsidies to oil, gas and coal companies.
- 63% of small business owners support a national renewable energy standard.
- 57% of small business owners want banks and other investors to include environmental benefits in business investment decisions.
- 80% of small business owners support requiring disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
ASBC is collecting signatures of small business owners in support of the climate declaration, launched recently by BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy) and signed by 150 larger companies, including General Motors Co., Unilever, IKEA, Stonyfield Farm and more than 100 ski areas. The declaration calls on U.S. policymakers to capture the economic opportunities of addressing climate change. To sign onto this national campaign, click here.
To view the full survey results, click here.
Poll results represent findings from a scientific national phone survey of owners of small businesses (with 2 to 99 employees), commissioned by the American Sustainable Business Council and conducted by Lake Research Partners. The nationwide live phone survey was conducted between March 14-25, 2013. It has a margin of error of +/- 4.4%.
The American Sustainable Business Council and its member organizations represent more than 165,000 businesses nationwide, and more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, executives, managers, and investors. The council includes chambers of commerce, trade associations, and groups representing small business, investors, microenterprise, social enterprise, green and sustainable business, local living economy, and women and minority business leaders. ASBC, www.asbcouncil.org, informs and engages policy makers and the public about the need and opportunities for building a vibrant and sustainable economy.
The New York State Sustainable Business Council is a newly launched state-wide network of business organizations and leaders that provides its members with education and opportunities to raise the voice of business on key public issues for New York such as fracking, toxic chemicals, renewables, and campaign finance reform. http://asbcouncil.org/