FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

September 8, 2005

 

CONTACT:

Neila Seaman, 515-277-8868

 

NEW SURVEY SHOWS CLEAR MAJORITY OF IOWA VOTERS WANT TO MAKE COAL BURNING PLANTS REDUCE MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM SMOKESTACKS

 Des Moines, Iowa  – According to a just-released random survey conducted by Abacus Associates, 60 percent of voters in Iowa are overwhelmingly in favor of requiring all coal-burning power plants in Iowa to adopt existing technology that will reduce the level of mercury being emitted from their smokestacks.  Only 14 percent opposed this position.  This is the case even though voters were given no information about the issue before being asked. 

 "Mercury is an issue that crosses boundaries," said Neila Seaman, Director, Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club.  "Every demographic subgroup in the survey, no matter what age, gender, party or ideology, was in favor of making coal-burning power plants in Iowa use stricter technology to keep mercury out of our water." 

Upon hearing arguments for and against reducing mercury poisoning 76 percent of Iowa voters were at least a great deal concerned upon hearing that mercury damages brain development and the nervous system in children and can lead to cerebral palsy, autism, and mental retardation.  In addition, 67 percent of Iowa voters were at least a great deal concerned that, according to EPA estimates, one in six U.S. women of childbearing age has a mercury level in her blood stream high enough to put her baby at risk.

Sixty percent of voters in Iowa said they want Governor Vilsack and the State Legislature to take the lead and pass legislation that will require all coal burning power plants to adopt existing technology that will reduce the level of mercury being emitted from their smokestacks.

Additionally, 54 percent of voters in Iowa who had an opinion on the subject said that they would “vote against a politician who does not actively support legislation that would reduce mercury emissions from smokestacks.” This new information may be particularly relevant this week, as Senators Grassley and Harkin have an opportunity to support a bipartisan effort in the Senate to make EPA put strong mercury protections in place.  That vote is expected to happen within the next few days.

Results of the survey are based on a telephone survey of 750 random-digit dialed (RDD) adults in 5 states, who were screened as likely voters.  There were 150 interviews in each state, with the data weighted to match the number of likely voters in the state.  Data is also weighted within each state by gender, age, income and party to match known population parameters. 

Interviews were conducted over a 3-day period, between August 22 and August 24, 2005, with numbers being called back at least 3 times in order to reach the randomly selected voter.  This rigorous methodology ensures that harder-to-reach members are interviewed and that the results are more accurate.  Sampling error at the 95 percent level of confidence for each group on a question where respondents are evenly divided is plus or minus 3.6 percent for 750 interviews and plus or minus 8.0 percent for 150 interviews.

 

For a copy of the survey, please contact Neila Seaman, Director, Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club, at 515-277-8868.

 

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