A recent survey by Navigant Research has found that consumer favorability for a number of renewable energy and environmental concepts such as solar energy, wind energy and electric vehicles has rebounded to the 2009 level.
To be precise, positive overall impressions of solar energy have now reached 79 percent of Americans – a level close to the results of 2009, when 81 percent of the respondents had a favorable view of solar energy.
The trend for solar is closely followed by wind energy, which gained a favorable response from 72 percent of Americans.
The average favorability rating for the 10 concepts, which fall under the categories of clean energy, clean transportation, smart grid, and building efficiency, also rose, to 51 percent, the highest level seen in Navigant Research’s survey since 2010.
The increase in favorable views of alternative fuel vehicles to be noted includes hybrid vehicles (67 percent), electric cars (61 percent), and natural gas vehicles (56 percent), the report said.
Commenting on the results of the survey, Clint Wheelock, managing director with Navigant Research, said, “Solar energy is one of the most popular and least controversial green technologies in the eyes of consumers. But it is followed closely by wind energy, which gained a favorable response from 72 percent of Americans.”
The complete results of the survey are detailed in Navigant whitepaper titled, “Energy and Environment Consumer Survey.”