A recent survey of Wisconsin voters found broad support for requiring that in-state workers be employed on renewable energy projects in the state.
The survey was conducted by Public Policy Polling and commissioned by Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment Now, tapping 557 voters on Jan. 17-18 by telephone and text message.
It found that 67 percent of respondents support this requirement, including 73 percent of Democrats, 69 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of independents. Nineteen percent are not in favor of the requirement.
Meanwhile, 64 percent of respondents said the state Public Service Commission should require developers to report to the public how many Wisconsin workers are employed at these projects. That includes 78 percent of responding Democrats, 56 percent of Republicans and 58 percent of independents. Eighteen percent of respondents disagree.
The survey also found 57 percent of responding voters want to see more renewable energy development in the state, such as solar and wind projects.
WIIN had previously commissioned a study from Forward Analytics that found the in-state economic impact of such projects is significantly larger when they’re constructed by a local workforce rather than out-of-state workers.
See the full survey results here: https://wisconsininfrastructure.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/PPP-Wisconsin-Results-1.20.22.pdf
Listen to a podcast with WIIN Executive Director Robb Kahl discussing the earlier study: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2021/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-robb-kahl-executive-director-of-wisconsin-infrastructure-investment-now/
