CT Voters Support Offshore Wind, Strong Labor Requirements

Connecticut voters overwhelmingly support building offshore wind energy with strong labor standards to improve the economy. according to a poll released at a public forum in Middletown last week.

The poll, conducted in nine states by Impact Research, found that Connecticut voters support requiring developers to provide living wages and workplace safety protections for the jobs offshore wind will create.

“The Connecticut Roundtable on Climate and Jobs believes that the climate crisis presents an opportunity to build thriving sustainable, just, and equitable jobs,” said executive director Aziz Dehkan.

“When we discuss a just transition from a fossil fuel economy to a green renewable energy economy we talk about living wage jobs,” said Dehkan. “That means individuals and families must not only be able to afford adequate shelter, food, and health care but that these workforce jobs are safe and sustainable.”

He greeted the polling results which show that “a wide margin of Connecticut residents not only support offshore wind projects but want those jobs with strong labor provisions. Additionally, they see offshore wind projects as good for the state economy.”

Activists who support moving funds from military spending and nuclear weaponry to job creating green energy and human needs also greeted the poll findings, which include:

• By a 39-point margin, nearly two-thirds of Connecticut voters across all demographics support building offshore wind energy with strong labor standards (63% support / 24% oppose / 13% don’t know) including among Democrats (+68), Independents (+33) and Republicans (+5).

• Connecticut voters see strong labor standards like workplace safety and living wages as paramount for any jobs created by the offshore wind industry. They overwhelmingly view workplace safety protections (88%) and living wages and good benefits (79%) as very important requirements for jobs created by the offshore wind industry.

• Connecticut voters believe offshore wind will be good for the economy and jobs—two of their top priorities for lawmakers. By a 35-point margin, they believe building offshore wind energy will be good for the economy and by a 44-point margin, they believe it will create jobs (52% create jobs / 8% cost jobs). More than four in five Connecticut voters say strengthening the state’s economy (86%) and creating more good jobs (84%) should be very important issues for lawmakers working on energy and environment issues.