Public Opinion & Environmental Policy in the Commonwealth

Public Opinion & Environmental Policy in the Commonwealth Views of Virginia voters in 2017

Study Background • Research supported by a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment. • Survey conducted Jan. 29-Feb. 12, 2017 of registered Virginia voters. • Sample size = 826 (382 L / 443 C) and the data were weighted on sex, age, race, and region of state. • Goal of the project is to revisit questions and issues examined in past studies and to look at public opinion on current environmental issues.

Virginians… • Have become increasingly optimistic about the quality of the Commonwealth’s natural environment; • Are most concerned about issues related to water quality; • Are strongly supportive of continued restoration of the Chesapeake Bay; • Do not generally see a conflict between the environment and the economy, but favor environment when pushed;

Virginians… • Do not favor rolling back environmental protections & want federal government to play a bigger role; • Support continued state action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and tax credits for land preservation; • Generally lack enough information to evaluate progress on some policy issues.

Grading the Natural Environment Virginians have been asked to give the Commonwealth’s natural environment a grade on several occasions since 1997. Grading scale: letter grade of ”A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F”

Grading the Natural Environment 2017 B 2010 C+ 2011 C+ 1997 C 2009 C

Importance of Natural Environment How important are environmental issues facing Virginia to you personally, would you say they are: • Very important • Somewhat important • Not too important • Not important at all Next year Virginia will elect a new governor. How important is it to you personally that the next governor place a priority on clean air, clean water, and conservation of open spaces and natural resources, would you say: • Very important • Somewhat important • Not too important • Not important at all

Importance of Natural Environment Differences between: • men & women • white & black • partisan/ideology

Importance of Environmental Issues I’m going to describe several environmental issues facing Virginia right now, and would like to know how important you think each one is. For each issue, please tell me whether you think it is…Very important, Somewhat important, Not too important, or Not important at all. [issue order randomized] • Pollution of local rivers, streams, and lakes • Contamination of tap water • Health of the Chesapeake Bay • Urban sprawl and loss of open space and natural resources • Adequacy of drinking water supplies • Sea level rise • Safe disposal of coal ash from power plants • Fracking for natural gas in coastal areas • Offshore oil and gas drilling

Very Important Environmental Issues Significant deviation: * Conservative / Republican generally * South/SW on Chesapeake Bay * NOVA on drinking water

Progress on “very important” issues Now I’m going to read a list of specific environmental issues facing Virginia. For each one please tell me if state is making enough progress, doing too little, or doing too much to address the issue. [issue order randomized] • Pollution of local rivers, streams, and lakes • Contamination of tap water • Health of the Chesapeake Bay • Urban sprawl and loss of open space and natural resources • Adequacy of drinking water supplies • Sea level rise • Safe disposal of coal ash from power plants • Fracking for natural gas in coastal areas • Offshore oil and gas drilling

Progress on “very important” issues

Environment vs. Economic Growth I’m going to read two statements about the environment and the economy and I want you to tell me which one comes closest to your view. [Randomize: “Protection of the environment should be given priority, even if it curbs economic growth a little” OR “Economic growth should be given priority, even if Virginia’s environment suffers a little because of it.”] * Both Conservatives and Republicans favor economic growth over environmental protection by a slight bit.

Enforcement of Clean Air & Water I’m going to read a few statements about enforcement of clean air and clean water laws and regulations, and for each one, please tell me whether you agree strongly, agree somewhat, disagree somewhat or disagree strongly. • Common sense enforcement of clean air and clean water laws and regulations is necessary to keep Virginia’s air and water clean and safe. • The benefits of enforcement of clean air and clean water laws and regulations exceeds the costs. • Tough and fair enforcement of clean water and clean air laws and regulations should occur at the same time. • It is important not to roll back clean air and clean water laws and regulations.

Enforcement of Clean Air & Water

Environmental Policy I’m going to mention some specific policies that affect the environmental health of Virginia, and for each one please tell me if you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the policy. [randomize] • Continue to provide farmers with financial assistance to reduce pollution from fields and barnyards • Strengthen Virginia’s coal ash laws and regulations • Continue the ban on uranium mining • Continue to provide tax credits for voluntarily preserving farmlands, forests, open spaces, and natural areas and historic sites. • Continue to place a priority on the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams • Ban offshore oil and gas drilling • Allow for the first time fracking for natural gas in the coastal region of Virginia • Provide state financial and technical assistance to communities experiencing the impacts of recurrent flooding

Environmental Policy

Role of Federal Government Thinking about the federal government, please tell me how much of a role, if any, you think the federal government plays right now in protecting Virginia’s environment and natural resources. Would you say it plays a major role, a minor role, or not role at all? And what about in the future….please tell me how much of a role, if any, you think the federal government should play in the future in terms of protecting Virginia’s environment and natural resources. Would you say it should play a major role, a minor role, or no role at all?

Role of Federal Government Biggest increase: Women (+28), black (+39), Hampton Roads (+28), 18-44 (+24), Liberals (+39), Democrats (+40) Decrease: Republicans (-1)

Federal Programs/Mandates For over 30 years, Virginia has worked with the federal government, five other states, and the District of Columbia to restore the Chesapeake Bay, including recently implementing a new ”Blueprint” to clean up the Bay. Do you support or oppose Virginia continuing to implement its part of the “Blueprint” to clean up the Bay? The federal government has required states like Virginia to reduce polluting carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, however there is some talk that this requirement may be rolled back. If this requirement is rolled back, do you think Virginia should continue to work to reduce polluting carbon dioxide emissions from power plants or not?

Federal Programs/Mandates Chesapeake Bay ”Blueprint”… Carbon dioxide emissions…

And…Couple other Policy Areas Virginia has historically spent less than one cent of every state dollar on protecting and managing our natural resources. Would you support increasing this amount, or do you think that amount is enough? Some states are considering having additional environmental literacy requirements for high school graduation. Would you support or oppose Virginia placing a priority on environmental literacy requirements for high school graduation?

And…Couple other Policy Areas Spending… Environmental literacy…

Take away Virginians are proud of the natural environment, it’s important to them and they want it to be important to public officials, including the next governor. Most important environmental policy issues relate to water: drinking, tap water contamination, & health of bay & local rivers and streams Virginians favor action on the environment Virginians generally don’t see a conflict between environmental protection and economic growth Virginians support a range of environmental policies, but views vary on some such as fracking and banning offshore drilling

Further Details For more information, contact: Quentin Kidd at qkidd@cnu.edu Joe Maroon at info@vee.org

Public Opinion & Environmental Policy in the Commonwealth