Survey: Educated Americans Prefer Renewable Energy

USA, October 3, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The MPO Research Group conducted a non-partisan survey in the United States and determined that 66.9% of respondents with a Masters degree or PhD want to see renewables developed, compared to 33.4% with only a high school degree and 46.6% with a Bachelors degree.

The MPO Research Group conducted a non-partisan survey in the United States and determined that 66.9% of respondents with a Masters degree or PhD want to see renewables developed, compared to 33.4% with only a high school degree and 46.6% with a Bachelors degree.

These statistics are important for a number of reasons. The first and most obvious is that well educated people are more inclined to be cognizant of the need to consume in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Those who’ve obtained college degrees, especially those with advanced college degrees, are much more likely to recognize the concept of utilitarianism. Those who believe in utilitarianism argue that an individual’s behaviors and attitudes should express and convey concern for society’s greater good. Consuming power from renewable resources indicates a strong concern for the environment and also for posterity’s sake. Simply put, those who’ve obtained college degrees are more likely to act in an altruistic manner instead of in a self-interested manner.

The above cited statistics are also important from the perspective of businesses. Organizations that sell automobiles, energy and other services that make use of renewable sources will find a highly desired customer base in the well educated. Those who obtain college degrees, especially Masters degrees or PhDs constitute the most coveted demographic cohort in the United States.

Their business is highly desired because they earn stable and significant salaries, have an ample disposable income and are likely to have opinions that are respected by their peers. Well educated individuals are able to significantly influence not only their fellow civilians but also leaders in the business and academic communities. They are also much more inclined to be politically active and contribute towards efforts to shape legislation in favor of businesses that provide products and services derived from renewable sources of energy.

This research comes from a new report ont he renewable energy industry.  The report is based on survey data from MPO Research Group.  More information is available at ww.mpopower.com.

Major companies in this industry include: AECO (Alabama Electric Company); Alabama Power (ALBMP); PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, Inc.; Tennessee Valley Authority; Wiregrass Electric Cooperative; Alaska Villages Electric Cooperative; Chugach Electric Association; Copper Valley; Electric Association; Golden Valley Electric Association; Kodiak Electric Association; Municipal Light & Power; Arizona Public Service; Salt River Project; Tucson Electric Power; UniSource Energy Services; Alameda Municipal Power; Anaheim Public utilities; Azusa Light & Water; City of Palo Alto Utilities; California Public Utilities Commission; Bear Valley Electric; Burbank Water & Power; Colton Public Utilities; Glendale Public Service Department; Gridley Municipal Utilities; Healdsburg Municipal Electric Department; City & County of San Francisco; Imperial Irrigation District; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power; Mountain Utilities; Pacific Gas & Electric; PacifiCorp (PPWLO); Pasadena Water & Power; Riverside Public Utilities; Sacramento Municipal Utility District; Silicon Valley Power; San Diego Gas & Electric; Sierra-Pacific Power; Southern California Edison; Southern California; Public Power Authority; Surprise Valley Power; Vernon Light & Power; Valley Electric Association; Colorado Springs Utilities; Gunnison County Electric Association [GCEA]; Holy Cross Energy; Intermountain Rural Electric Association [IREA]; La Plata Electric Association [LPEA]; Mountain Parks Electric Inc [MPEI]; Sangre De Cristo Electric Association [SDCEA]; San Isabel Electric Association [SIEA]; Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc [TSGTA]; United Power Inc; Xcel Energy (XEL); Direct Energy; Northeast Utilities (Connecticut Light & Power) (BTT); Norwich Public Utilities; United Illuminating; Wallingford Electric; Ambit Energy; Calpine (CPN); Delmarva Power (a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc.); City of Milford Electric Department; Delaware Electric Cooperative, NRG Energy; PEPCO (POM); Florida Power & Light; Florida Municipal Power Agency; Florida Public Utility Company Palm Beach; Gainesville Regional Utilities; Gulf Power, a part of the Southern Company (GLFPN); JEA; Kissimmee Utility Authority; Lakeland Electric; Lake Worth Utilities; LCEC; Ocala Electric; Orlando Utilities Commission; Duke Energy (DUK); City of Tallahassee utilities; TECO; Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (Fort Pierce, Florida); Georgia Natural Gas; Scana Energy; Flint Energies; Georgia Power, a part of the Southern Company; Tennessee Valley Authority; Hawaiian Electric Industries (Hawaiian Electric Company (HELCO)); Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC); Avista Utilities; IDACORP (Idaho Power); Clearwater Power; Kootenai Electric Cooperative; Northern Lights; Ameren (AEE); Batavia Municipal Electric; Champion Energy; ComEd; Direct Energy; Springfield City Water, Light & Power; Corn Belt Energy; American Electric Power; Duke Energy (DUK); Indianapolis Power & Light; Northern Indiana Public Service Company; Interstate Power and Light Company (a part of Alliant Energy) (LNT); MidAmerican Energy; Kansas City Board of Public Utilities; Kansas City Power & Light; Westar Energy (WR); Big Rivers Electric Corporation; Henderson Municipal Power and Light; Kentucky Utilities; Louisville Gas & Electric; Owensboro Municipal Utilities; CLECO; Entergy; SWEPCO (a subsidiary of American Electric Power); Emera (Bangor Hydro); Iberdrola USA (Central Maine Power); Allegheny Power; Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGLEN); Choptank Electric Cooperative; Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative; Chicopee Electric Light; Holyoke Gas and Electric; Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC);