Green grid

A new survey finds that Americans are confused and concerned about the costs, but they agree that the nation’s electrical grid infrastructure should be upgraded to support new generation and further deployment of alternative energy technologies.

The 2009 Green Power Progress survey, from Burson-Marsteller and Penn, Schoen & Berland Associates, also finds that Americans are willing to pay 15% more ($18/month, based on the average electricity bill noted by respondents) than what they pay today for energy that comes from alternative sources. Americans believe green energy is at least 50% more ($62/month) expensive than what they currently pay.

SURVEY FINDINGS
• Americans agree that electrical grid infrastructure should be upgraded to support alternative energy technologies.

• Seven out of 10 Americans support federal stimulus funds toward alternative energy technologies; a majority said more should have been allocated.

• Six in 10 Americans are very likely to support increased government investment in Smart Grid technology that provides better control by cutting back on consumption during peak periods

• The more than 1,000 Americans surveyed indicated that they paid an average of $117 in April 2009 for electricity. For most Americans (61%), this was an increase from last year.

• On average, Americans are willing to pay a onetime fee of $50 to install necessary hardware in their homes and service charges of $10 per month.