From: Justin Mayhew, Public Policy Polling® To: Interested Parties Subject: Overwhelming Bipartisan Majorities Support Maine’s Current Solar Net Metering Energy Policies, Want Net Metering to Remain Date: March 7, 2016 A new Public Policy Polling survey finds that current solar energy policies that allow Mainers to receive credit for excess energy produced by rooftop solar panels are enormously popular among voters. A near unanimous 91% of Maine voters say that Mainers should be allowed to generate solar electricity on their rooftops, and the retail rate credit policy, known as net metering, is backed by a 51-point margin (67/16). Support for net metering is diverse and broad-based, with strong majorities of Democrats (65/20), Republicans (66/16), and Independents (73/8) in favor of current net metering market structures for Mainers producing clean solar energy on their homes. Maine voters are ready to back up their support of net metering at the polls, with 61% saying they would be less likely to vote for a Maine politician or regulator who wanted to get rid of solar net metering and replace it with policies that are more favorable to Maine’s energy monopolies. This coalition of support includes majorities of voters across the political spectrum, with 63% of Democrats, 55% of Republicans, and 65% of independents pledging to vote against politicians who want to cut current net metering market structures for Mainers producing emission-free solar energy. Key findings from the survey include: - Voters of all political persuasions are supportive of Mainers using solar energy systems that are installed with their own money to protect themselves against future electricity rate increases. This includes support from 94% of Republicans, 87% of Democrats, and 92% of independents. - The vast majority of Maine voters want to keep net metering policies as they are, and they roundly reject proposals to replace them with a possibly taxable alternative billing mechanism where the utility controls most of the electricity that consumers’ solar panels generate. 79% of voters prefer current net metering Public Policy Polling® 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27604 Phone: 888 621-6988 Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Email: information@publicpolicypolling.com policies, while just 6% support alternatives more favorable to the electric utilities. - Even if an alternative billing is introduced, Maine voters would still want net metering to remain in effect. 57% of voters would prefer net metering to remain as the primary solar energy credit policy, including 62% of Democrats, 51% of Republicans, and 55% of Independents. - 84% of Mainers think that when it comes to electricity generation, the consumer should have more energy choices rather than letting a monopoly utility maintain control. PPP surveyed 600 Maine voters from March 1-2, 2016. The margin of error is +/-4.0%. Respondents were identified by congressional district, race, gender, age, and party affiliation. Breakdowns are as follows: - Congressional district: 49% in District 1, 51% in District 2 Race: 92% white, 8% other Gender: 53% female, 47% male Age: 33% 18-45, 41% 46-65, 26% older than 65 Party: 43% Democrat, 33% Republican, 24% independent This poll was conducted by automated telephone interviews. Public Policy Polling® 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27604 Phone: 888 621-6988 Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Email: information@publicpolicypolling.com