Pennsylvania voters reject bailouts for nuclear power companies, says new poll

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- API Pennsylvania today released a new poll showing that the overwhelming majority of Pennsylvania voters would oppose legislation that would force consumers in the state to pay a special fee to bailout nuclear power companies. API Pennsylvania urged members of the Pennsylvania state legislature to reject any measure that could raise costs for consumers and hurt workers across the state.

"Despite the fact that half of the voters across the state think electricity prices are too high, some are asking legislators in Harrisburg to force Pennsylvania consumers to pay a special fee to bail out nuclear power companies," said Executive Director Stephanie Catarino Wissman. "Picking winners and losers in the electricity markets by providing bailouts to nuclear power at the expense of Pennsylvania consumers would diminish the benefits that clean-burning natural gas has brought to Pennsylvania workers and consumers. Moving forward, the legislature should reject any measure that could raise costs for consumers and hurt workers across the state."

Key poll results:

• 84 percent of voters agree that Pennsylvania consumers should not have to pay a special fee to bailout Exelon's nuclear power plants.
• 84 percent of voters oppose legislation charging consumers a special fee to fund Exelon's nuclear power plants.
• 77 percent of voters agree that the electricity market should be based on the marketplace, not special treatment for one corporation.
• 60 percent of voters believe that electricity prices are lower with competition, not government intervention.

The poll results were released on a press conference call on Wednesday morning. The opening statement and results of the poll are available on API's website.

API Pennsylvania is a division of API, which represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans.

Methodology

The study was conducted between July 26-30, 2017, by telephone by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Petroleum Institute among 800 Pennsylvania registered voters, with a sampling error of +/- 3.5 percent. A full methodology is available upon request.

"What America is Thinking on Energy Issues" is a public opinion series provided by API, offering data to inform policy discussions and ensure policymakers and others know Americans' perspectives on key energy issues.

SOURCE American Petroleum Institute