National Association for the Self-Employed – Business Benefits, Educational Resources and Access to Health Insurance for Small Businesses and Startups > Micro-Businesses Want A National Energy Policy

Washington, D.C., June 25, 2010 – Despite a challenging economic climate, saving on energy costs remains a priority for many small business owners. Fifty percent of micro-business owners have made efforts to reduce their energy costs by implementing energy-saving measures in their home and business, according to a study undertaken by the NASE. Forty percent of respondents indicated they had implemented energy-saving measures in their home only, while only nine percent of respondents indicated they had not undergone any energy-saving changes in their home or business.

In light the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, 59 percent of small business owners believe that policymakers should prioritize a national energy policy. The priorities of small business owners in regards to the components of a national energy policy were closely divided between reducing dependence on oil (25 percent), avoiding the imposition of overly burdensome and costly regulations on businesses (23 percent), saving their family and business money on energy costs (21 percent), and improving the environment and the quality of air and water (18 percent).

“Micro-businesses understand that a smart, forward-thinking energy policy will help small business and our nation in the long term. Reducing our dependence on oil by cultivating clean energy will create jobs and business opportunities for small businesses while also lowering energy costs for entrepreneurs and all Americans,” commented Kristie Arslan, executive director of NASE’s Legislative Offices.

When asked about specific energy proposals suggested by Congress and the Administration, micro-business owners were in favor of tax credits and proposals to reduce oil dependency. Eighty percent of survey respondents favored tax credits to individuals who implement specific energy-saving measures in their homes, and 76 percent favored grants and tax credits to small businesses to help them afford implementation of energy-saving measures in their business. Sixty percent favored increasing the use of nuclear power and the creation of new power plants, while 61 percent favored tax subsidies to energy companies to encourage the expansion of alternative energy sources. However, 58 percent of respondents opposed the creation of a cap-and-trade system that would limit emissions of greenhouse gases.

Almost half (49 percent) of survey respondents indicated they were willing to undergo and pay for the implementation of energy-saving measures in their home and/or business. Of those that were unsure or unwilling to implement these measures, 46 percent indicated that this was due to cost.

For the full survey results, please visit NASE's Research & Statistics website.

Methodology:
Posted on the NASE Web site, the survey was available for members and other small business owners to take in June. Over 400 small business owners opted-in to the online survey and respondents were prohibited from taking it more than once.

About the NASE
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation’s leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. The NASE is a 501(c) (6) non-profit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association’s web site at www.nase.org

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