Contact:
, Conservation Director, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, (612) 659-9124
Public Urges Decision Makers to Restore Public Trust
and Reduce Mercury Pollution
New survey shows Minnesota voters want to make coal-burning power plants
reduce mercury emissions from smokestacks
Minneapolis, MN — A newly released survey (pdf, 41k) shows that 71% of voters in Minnesota are overwhelmingly in favor of requiring all coal-burning power plants in Minnesota to adopt existing technology that will reduce the level of mercury being emitted from their smokestacks. Only 6% opposed this position. The survey was conducted by Abacus Associates.
"Mercury is an issue that crosses boundaries," said Scott Elkins, Sierra Club State Director. "Every demographic subgroup in the survey, no matter what age, gender, party or ideology, was in favor of making coal-burning power plants in Minnesota use stricter technology to keep mercury out of our water."
According to the survey, 72% of voters in Minnesota said they want Governor Pawlenty and the Minnesota 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.
Decision makers have three very important opportunities to reduce mercury emissions.
- On a state level mercury coming from power plants is a critical public health issue that Governor Pawlenty and Commissioner Corrigan can address now by correcting a flawed TMDL public process and incorporating strict deadlines for mercury emission reductions.
- Additionally the Minnesota Legislature could respond to public health concerns by passing legislation similar to last year's legislation that calls for mercury emissions reductions.
- U.S. Senators Coleman and Dayton have an opportunity early next week to support a bipartisan effort in the Senate to make EPA put strong mercury protections in place.
The survey found that 73% of voters in Minnesota 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.
Upon hearing arguments for and against reducing mercury poisoning 74% of Minnesotan 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.
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% level of confidence for each group on a question where respondents are evenly divided is plus or minus 3.6% for 750 interviews and plus or minus 8.0% for 150 interviews.
For a copy of the survey, please go to northstar.sierraclub.org/mercury/mercurySurvey20050824.pdf (pdf, 41k)