Young activists march in Sheridan Hollow, city of Albany, for more clean energy projects in New York.
The most recent Siena College poll finds strong support among likely state voters for a proposal to borrow $4.2 billion for environmental protection and clean energy projects.
Siena College pollsters asked “On the ballot this year is a proposal to authorize the sale of up to $4.2 billion of state bonds to fund environmental protection and clean energy projects. Will you vote yes or no on the environmental bond act, or do you not intend to vote on that?”
Of the 707 likely voters surveyed, 54 percent responded “yes” while 26 percent responded “no.”
Eight percent of voters said they do not intend to vote on the ballot proposal and 12 percent said they do not know or they refused to answer.
The borrowing measure would direct funds to four major areas: flood risk reduction, open space land conservation and recreation, climate change mitigation and water quality improvement and resilient infrastructure.
Among political parties, the poll showed major Democratic support for the act — 78 percent of Democrat voters said “yes” while 6 percent said “no.”
Meanwhile, 23 percent of Republican voters said “yes” while 52 percent said “no.”
The Environmental Bond Act has support among independent voters also, by a margin of 47-32 percent.
In terms of political views, the poll also showed strong liberal support with 90 percent of voters saying “yes” and 0 percent saying “no.”
Fifty-nine percent of moderate voters plan to vote for it while 20 percent do not. On the opposite end of the spectrum, 19 percent of conservative voters said they will vote “yes” while 55 percent say they will vote “no.”
By region, 69 percent of New York City voters said “yes” while 10 percent of voters said “no.” In the suburbs, 46 percent of voters support the ballot question while 36 percent of voters said “no.”
Upstate, 48 percent of voters said “yes” while 32 percent of voters said “no.”
The Environmental Bond Act, which promises environmental justice projects to reverse years of pollution in minority communities, has strong support among Black and Latino voters, with 70 percent and 64 percent support, respectively.
At least 35 percent of the total funding in the bond act must be spent in disadvantaged communities, with a goal of reaching 40 percent.
The Siena poll was conducted October 12- 14 by telephone calls in English to 707 self-identified likely voters in New York state. It has an overall margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
The Environmental Bond Act will be on the back of the ballot for all New York voters on November 8.
Voters can find their polling place at the state Board of Elections website.
Early voting for the General Election will take place October 29 to November 6.
