The debate over the severity and importance of climate change has been argued since before most of those debating were born. Not surprisingly, the population of Benton County is all about protecting the environment.
According to Pew Research on the subject, approval for taxing corporations based on carbon emissions or introducing more severe restrictions on vehicle emission standards is a bit more varied by the political party. 86-89% of Democratic-leaning respondents support these measures, whereas only 52-55% of Republican-leaning respondents feel the same.
Stacker compiled a list of data on support in Benton County for varying subjects across multiple backgrounds and differentiating factors, using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
The results are as follows:
- Support in Benton County for funding renewable energy sourcing research is 88.2%. This is 28th highest among all metros and 2.4% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for regulating CO2 as a pollutant is 78.4%. This is 17th highest among all metros and 3.8% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for setting strict limits on existing coal-fired power plants is 76.6%. This is sixth highest among all metros and 8.9% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes such as income tax by an equal amount is 72.5%. This is 22nd highest among all metros and 4.7% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources is 70.1%. This is 15th highest among all metros and 5.1% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels is 85.0%. This is 11th highest among all metros and 2.9% higher than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is 23.1%. This is 342nd highest among all metros and 8.5% lower than the national average.
- Support in Benton County for expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast is 39.2%. This is 338th highest among all metros and 13.0% lower than the national average.
While the numbers for Benton County are all a positive reminder of what we want for the world, the question remains of how to accomplish the lofty goals they represent for an increasingly broken and abused environment.
By Ethan Hauck
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