3 Charts Show How Unpopular EPA Carbon Regulations are in Coal States

Survey tells us that voters aren’t happy with EPA’s attempt to push coal out of the energy picture, and there are serious political risks for politicians who support the agency’s efforts.

 by Sean Hackbarth, Contributing Author: It should be expected that people living in states that rely on coal for jobs and to keep the lights on wouldn't like EPA’s proposed carbon regulations. A poll for the National Mining Association gives us some data backing up that intuition.
Magellan Strategies polled eight states that are either significant producers or consumers of coal: Arkansas; Colorado; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Montana; and North Carolina. Three charts sum up Magellan’s findings:

1. More People Oppose the Proposed Carbon Rules than Support Them

In the aggregate, 47% oppose the proposed rules, while only 37% support it. Only one state, Michigan, did support top opposition.

2. When Told Regulations Will Mean Higher Electricity Costs, Opposition Grows

When those surveyed were told that EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy admitted the proposed regulations would result in a “short –term hit” to electricity cost (meaning increases), 59% said they were more likely to oppose it, while only 18% said they’d be more likely to support it.

3. Senate Candidates that Support Carbon Regulations Will Be Hurt

The states that Magellan Strategies polled also have competitive U.S. Senate races. How will the proposed carbon regulations play out in the fall? Those surveyed are more likely to oppose a candidate who supports the proposed carbon regulations. Even in Michigan, where support for the proposed carbon rules tops opposition, nearly half of respondents said they’re more likely to oppose a candidate who supports them.

Here’s one last data point. Seventy-six percent of respondents said they would prefer that President Obama focus more on creating jobs and growing the economy than imposing new regulations on power plants.

This survey tells us that voters aren’t happy with EPA’s attempt to push coal out of the energy picture, and there are serious political risks for politicians who support the agency’s efforts.
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Sean Hackbarth is a policy advocate and blogger at U.S Chamber of Commerce. He is a contributing author at the   ARRA News Service and Twitters at @seanhackbarth

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Tags: 3 charts, EPA Carbon Regulations, Magellan Strategies, poll, eight states, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, North Carolina Sean Hackbarth, U.S. Chamber of Commerce To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!