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America's Sportsmen Want Clean Energy Investments that Stimulate Economy, Protect Wildlife

(National Wildlife Federation) 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                          
October 14, 2008

CONTACT: Brenda Archambo 231.625-2776

Poll: America’s Sportsmen Want Clean Energy investments that Stimulate Economy, Protect Wildlife

Michigan Hunters, Fishers Contribute Billions to State’s Economy

(Cheboygan) – A majority of American sportsmen believe that additional development of renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biofuels will do more to stimulate the United States economy than additional development of on-shore and off-shore oil and gas sources, according to a recent poll by American Viewpoint, and commissioned by the National Wildlife Federation Action Fund.

Seven in 10 sportsmen voters believe the country is on the wrong track when it comes to meeting our current and future energy needs, including 72 percent of those undecided in the presidential contest.

Eighty-five percent agree that “We can improve the environment and strengthen the economy by investing in renewable energy technologies that create jobs while reducing global warming.” More than three-quarters of sportsmen believe the United States needs to set a goal of achieving 100 percent of its electricity from clean renewable sources of power within 10 years.

“If the one in five voters who hunts or fishes had their way,” said Brenda Archambo, outreach consultant with the National Wildlife Federation. “Politicians would be talking about setting goals for alternative energy that are at least this ambitious. But none are. Sportsmen are growing increasingly frustrated with being ignored on this issue.”

In addition, 91 percent of sportsmen voters believe Congress deserves a great deal or some of the blame for the country’s high energy costs. The national poll, conducted in July, highlights the importance sportsmen place on addressing the nation’s energy problems.

”Michigan’s energy policies should focus on the need to provide good jobs in an expanding clean energy sector, but in ways that protect our wildlife.”

The sportsmen polled tend to be swing voters who consider conservation to be as important as, if not more important than, gun rights. Despite the strong presence of hunters in the poll (67 percent either hunt or hunt and fish), 47 percent of these respondents believe that “Gun rights are important, but conservation is just as important.”

Recently, more than 30 hunter and angler groups from across the west sent a letter to Congress urging a vote to extend the moratorium on commercial oil shale and tar sands development for Fiscal Year 2009.

Michigan hunting and angling are significant economic drivers. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports one out of every six Michigan residents hunt or fish. There are 1.7 million hunters and anglers in Michigan who spend $3.3 billion annually that sustain more than 46,000 jobs in Michigan.

Furthermore, a report released in September on green jobs found that, in addition to creating two million jobs nationwide over two years, a $100 billion initial investment in our clean energy future would create nearly four times more jobs than spending the same amount of money within the oil industry.

Investments in clean energy will not only save great places to hunt and fish in Michigan, they will create jobs and bolster the local economy. According to the report, Michigan’s share of the national green economic recovery program would be $3.1 billion. From that, Michigan would see a net of 61,394 new jobs created through investments in clean, renewable energy.

National Wildlife Federation’s mission is to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.