INSIDE SOURCES
Poll: Utahns want infrastructure bill money for water improvements in state
Aug 13, 2021, 5:30 AM | Updated: 8:14 am
(Water flows over the spillway at the East Canyon Dam on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, when the reservoir was full. Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
(Water flows over the spillway at the East Canyon Dam on Tuesday, June 11, 2019, when the reservoir was full. Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Many Utahns overwhelmingly favor the recently passed by the Senated infrastructure bill. In fact, in this year of extreme drought statewide, 96% support upgrading and improving water infrastructure and storage capability. This is according to a poll* from Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of The Nature Conservancy.
Political strategist and Exoro Group President Maura Carabello joined Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson. They discussed the findings of the infrastructure poll. Two of the questions in the poll received overwhelming support among Utahns:
- 93% of Utahns overhauling support upgrading transportation across the country, including repairing and upgrading roads, bridges, and rail lines.
- By a margin of 84% to 14%, Utah voters support using “federal infrastructure funds to invest in greater water conservation efforts, reduce wildfire risks and improve forest resilience.” Even 80% of Republicans support this.
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“Decreasing our dependence on foreign oil is really a high priority across the political spectrum in Utah,” Carabello said. 42% of those polled said this was a very high priority.
Utah backs using renewable energy, according to infrastructure poll
She added that Utahns are readying to investigate energy diversity as well, with all renewable sources polling above 80% favorability.
- Solar power (89% favorable),
- hydropower (81%),
- geothermal power (81%) and
- wind power (80%)
“We’re [Utahns] really focused on climate, if that’s what you call water and wildfire and air quality, and all these new fuels. We’re really interested in being innovators in these areas,” Carabello said.
*The poll of 600 Utahns was conducted July 12-14 and has a margin of error of +/- 4.0% in 95 out of 100 cases.
Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.
