Poll Shows Solar Energy Is Now Absurdly Popular

According to the 2009 SCHOTT Solar Barometer,^TM solar energy has now become the most popular thing since baked potatoes (toppings? your choice). A remarkably high 94% of all Americans say it's important for the United States to develop and use solar energy. The findings break down along party lines like so:

• 98% of Independents, 97% of Democrats, and 91% of Republicans support development of solar
• 74% of Independents, 72% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans favor extension of Federal tax credits for renewable technologies
• 77% of Americans feel Federal government should make solar power development a national priority

Not to sound to cynical about a very positive thing, but... what the heck? Aren't these types of high approval ratings usually reserved for inoffensive things like cute little kittens or walks on the beach? I honestly don't even think kittens would have such a high approval rating. And I just have two words about the walks on the beach: broken glass.

The results seem to definitively say that Americans overwhelmingly want the government to push forward with solar energy right now. In fact, looking over the questions, there are no glaring flaws in the survey's methodology.

A few more interesting results from the survey:

• When asked to choose one energy source to provide financial support for:
  • Solar was picked by 41% of respondents compared to coal (3%), nuclear (10%) and natural gas (15%)
  • Renewable energy (solar or wind) was selected nearly 20 times more than coal.
• When asked "How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The development of solar power and other renewable energy sources, including the financial support needed, should be a major priority of the federal government"
  • Nearly eight in ten (77%) Americans say the development and funding of renewable energy should be a "major priority" for the federal government.
  • More Independents (86%) than Democrats (84%) or Republicans (75%) agree that such support should be a "major priority".
  • Only one out of ten Americans felt development of solar power should not be a major priority of the federal government.

Far be it for me to argue with numbers like these. I wonder how many Americans would approve of these numbers? One might guess that the support for the results of this survey would be far lower than the actual survey results were.