Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado

1. Public Support for Energy Reform in Colorado Survey Results

2. Survey Methodology • Live telephone interviews among Colorado likely voters, conducted February 11 – 16, 2010 • 500 respondents • Survey results are subject to a +/- 4.4 percent margin of error Greenberg Quinlan Rosner

3. Key Findings • Voters want to see action from Congress on energy reform. • An energy reform bill that includes carbon pricing is popular among Colorado voters. • Majorities believe at the outset that the energy reform bill will help the economy, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign energy. • Proponents of energy reform must to win the economic debate—which we CAN, but it is a key battleground on which we have to fight. • After a balanced debate support for the energy bill holds with 55 – 41 percent in favor. • The biggest challenge to energy reform is with the public’s concerns about government, not concerns about specific energy policies. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 3 |

4. Political Landscape Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 4 |

5. Republicans and Independents Think the Country is on the Wrong Track Generally speaking, do you think that things in this country are going in the right direction, or do you feel things have gotten pretty seriously off on the wrong track? Partisan Fault Lines: Country Direction 63 33 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 5 |

6. Voters Divided on Obama and Bennet Please tell me whether you approve or disapprove of how each person is handling their job?

7. Bennet and Norton Virtually Even in Race for Senate, But Support is Soft for Both Candidates Thinking about the election for U.S. Senate in November 2010, if the candidates were Democrat Michael Bennet and Republican Jane Norton – for whom would you vote, Democrat Michael Bennet or Republican Jane Norton? 46 45 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 7 |

8. Public Support for Energy Reform Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 8 |

9. Legislation to Reform Energy and Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil High on List of Priorities for Congress Now I'm going to read you a list of issues. For each one, please tell me how important is it for congress and the president to pass legislation on the following issues in the next six months: Is it very important, somewhat important, a little important or not at all important? Legislation to… Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 9 | Page 9 |

10. Majorities Across the Political Spectrum Think Energy Reform is a Priority Legislation to reform our energy policy and cut our dependence on foreign oil Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 10 | Page 10 | Legislation to reform our energy policy and create clean energy jobs

11. Energy Reform Bill Has Majority Support in Colorado Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal. 56 41 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 11 |

12. Unusual Coalition Drives Support for Energy Reform Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal. Independent Fault Line Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 12 |

13. Energy Reform Bill Strong in Denver Metro and Swing Suburban Areas Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. This energy bill will put limits on pollution and greenhouse gases, and invest in alternative energy sources. This energy bill is what some have called a "cap and trade" system - which creates financial incentives for utilities and other companies to encourage them to use and produce alternative energy like wind and solar, in part, by putting a price on carbon emissions from energy sources like oil and coal. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 13 |

14. Majority of Voters Believe the Energy Reform Bill Will Help the Economy and Create Jobs From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will help the economy in Colorado or hurt the economy in Colorado? From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will help the economy in Colorado or hurt the economy in Colorado? 55 51 40 38 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 14 |

15. Overwhelming Majority Believes It Will Cut Dependence From what you’ve heard, do you think the energy bill will reduce our dependence on foreign energy or increase our dependence on foreign energy? Partisan Fault Lines: Total Reduce vs. Increase 63 25 Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 15 |

16. Energy Reform Prevails on Key Debate Points Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 16 |

17. Voters Come Down on the Side of Change Now I’m going to read you some pairs of statements about the energy bill being debated by Congress. After I read each pair, please tell me which statement you agree with more. I’m more concerned that our current energy policy is unacceptable, and we need to change direction. OR | I’m more concerned that this bill will take us in the wrong direction and will make our energy problems worse Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 17 |

18. Arguments That the Bill Will Kill Jobs Don’t Stand Up to the Idea of Recharging the Economy or Cutting Foreign Oil This proposal will help recharge Colorado's economy, and allow Colorado to become a leader in clean, alternative energy. Colorado can take the lead to produce new energy, build businesses and create American jobs. Experts say this proposal will create thirty-thousand Colorado jobs that can't be outsourced. OR | This bill constitutes a huge expansion of government control over American business, just when government is already taking over banks, auto companies, and other parts of our economy, including health care. We cannot afford more government regulation in our energy policy. We spend a billion dollars a day on foreign oil. This bill reduces our dependence on foreign oil, so we invest that money here instead of continuing to send it overseas. It puts America back in control of its own energy situation and creates clean energy jobs and industries right here in America. OR | Colorado relies on its oil and gas for electricity and jobs. This bill will make oil and gas too expensive to produce, destroying local industries, putting thousands of people in Colorado out of work and damaging the entire state's economy. OR | This bill is a job killer. It will cost America millions of jobs, including three million manufacturing jobs in the next two decades. It will make it harder for Colorado’s businesses to succeed by adding unnecessary regulations and higher energy costs, something we cannot afford right now. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 18 |

19. Energy Reform Bill Prevails in the Economic Debate – both in terms of the National Economy and the Local Economy Ensuring that the U.S. provides incentives for clean energy will ensure that America doesn’t lose jobs in clean energy industries to countries like India and China. By leading the world in the critical new industry of our time, we can create millions of new American jobs. OR | This bill constitutes a huge expansion of government control over American business, just when government is already taking over banks, auto companies, and other parts of our economy, including health care. We cannot afford more government regulation in our energy policy. Colorado is a leader in innovative new technologies, and we are positioned to be one of the leading centers for clean energy technology, including solar, wind and natural gas. This bill will accelerate the creation of new American jobs and keep Colorado at the forefront of this emerging industry. OR | Colorado relies on its oil and gas for electricity and jobs. This bill will make oil and gas too expensive to produce, destroying local industries, putting thousands of people in Colorado out of work and damaging the entire state's economy. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 19 |

20. Most Voters Agree that Short Term Costs are Worth the Long Term Benefits This bill may have short term costs, but given that energy prices keep going up, it is something we need to do for the long-term to create new jobs reduce our dependence on foreign oil. OR | At a time of high unemployment, this bill will cost families too much now and hurt our economy in the long-term and we should not do it. Independents Total Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 20 |

21. Energy Reform Holds Its Own on Costs and Economic Concerns Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 21 |

22. Bill Proponents Hold Their Own on Costs and Taxes With the technology we already have today, we can do this for modest costs, about fifteen dollars a month per family. This is a short term cost that is well worth the long term benefits of changing our energy policies to get American running on clean energy and save money on energy our costs down the road. OR | This is a giant spending proposal paid for by a hidden energy tax that will raise the cost of gasoline and electricity on Colorado families by three thousand dollars per year. People who are already struggling will pay more in higher utility costs and gas prices every time they flip a switch or put gas in their car. Independents Total Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 22 |

23. Most Voters Still Come Down on the Side of Change Despite Recession Concerns This is the right time to reform our energy policy because it will boost economic growth to help us out of recession. OR | This is the wrong time to reform our energy policy because the costs would be too high to bear in the middle of a recession. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 23 |

24. Challenges Remain, But Support for Energy Reform Holds Up Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 24 |

25. An Appeal for More and Broader Domestic Energy Production Remains a Strong Debate Point We spend a billion dollars a day on foreign oil. This bill reduces our dependence on foreign oil, so we invest that money here instead of continuing to send it overseas. It puts America back in control of its own energy situation and creates clean energy jobs and industries right here in America. OR | The best way to reduce our dependency on foreign oil is to explore for more sources of energy here in America. That means more alternatives, but also more domestic oil production, more natural gas and more nuclear energy. And we should NOT heavily tax coal which is our cheapest, most abundant source of energy Independents Total Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 25 |

26. Public Concern about Congress and Government Performance Holds People Back from Embracing Reform We should pass energy reform this year because we need to get America running on clean energy and create good clean energy jobs. OR | We should not pass energy reform this year because Congress is already doing too much big government spending and we need to get the deficit under control. OR | Congress is already taking on too many other issues, like healthcare, and should focus on the economy and jobs instead of taking on energy reform this year. Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 26 |

27. However, Economic and Cost Concerns Dominate Opposition From what you heard, what stood out as the best reason to OPPOSE the energy bill? Types of Responses *Will sum to more than 100%

28. Economic Benefits and Reduced Dependence through Alternatives Top of Mind of Those in Favor From what you heard, what stood out as the best reason to FAVOR the energy bill? Types of Responses *Will sum to more than 100%

29. Support for Energy Reform Bill Holds After Vigorous Debate Now I am going to read you some information about the energy bill that the House of Representatives passed. After I read this information, please tell me whether you favor or oppose the energy bill. Independents Total Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 29 |

30. Energy Reform and the 2010 Colorado Senate Race Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 30 |

31. Bennet Competitive in Most Areas of the State Thinking about the election for U.S. Senate in November 2010, if the candidates were Democrat Michael Bennet and Republican Jane Norton – for whom would you vote, Democrat Michael Bennet or Republican Jane Norton? Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 31 |

32. More Voters Prefer that Bennet Vote for Energy Reform From what you just heard, if your Senator voted FOR this energy legislation, would that make you -- more likely to re-elect your senator, or less likely to re-elect your senator? From what you just heard, if your Senator voted AGAINST this energy legislation, would that make you -- more likely to re-elect your senator, or less likely to re-elect your senator? Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Page 32 |

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