US solar company Applied Materials recently released the findings of a survey relating to the general public’s understanding and opinions about solar energy. The telephone survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults comprised of 200 adults in each of the following five states: New York, California, Colorado, Texas and Florida.
According to the survey, Americans want to see more solar energy and more rapid integration of renewable power into U.S. energy supplies.
Some of the key findings:
– 50% believe the U.S. Government’s goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025 is too slow.
– 81% agree that solar energy should play a bigger role in meeting U.S. energy needs in the next five years.
– 68% say that energy utilities should include solar electricity as a part of their power generation.
– 52% would be willing to pay more for electricity if their power company increased its use of renewable energy.
– 41% would not be willing to pay more.
While the survey shows a great deal of enthusiasm for solar power, it also revealed that Americans grossly overestimate how much solar energy is currently implemented in the nation. 20% of those surveyed believe that 20% or more of the USA’s electricity comes from solar power; but it actually only accounts for less than 0.01% – even though, according to the survey report, solar energy is already cost-competitive with fossil fuels for peak demand in such places as Hawaii, California and New York.
While Germany and Spain lead the world in solar power implementation due to government incentives such as feed in tariffs, one in four people surveyed believe that the U.S. is the world leader – a position it lost many years ago.
View the full findings of Applied Materials’ Summer Solstice Survey Results (PDF)
