(Oct. 18) – A recent poll, conducted by both Public Policy Polling and the NRDC Action Fund, found that voters in 23 congressional districts nationwide support clean energy legislation, and would likely vote for a candidate who is strong on the issue.

The survey, conducted Oct. 8 through Oct. 15, focused on districts, which have been identified by political analysts to be in close incumbent races, the results of which could decide control of the House of Representative.

“Voters will have a lot of concerns on their minds in November, and these polls show that one of those could be clean energy if candidates make it an issue," said Wesley Warren, director of programs for the NRDC Action Fund and leader of the polling project, who was quoted in a press release. "Again and again, the public has called for action to move America forward on a clean energy path, and they will be the ones to decide why candidates deserve their support, not the pundits."

The survey asked participants the following:

"Congress is considering an energy bill to move America toward a new energy future, including investments in wind and solar power. Supporters say the energy bill will create millions of new jobs, reduce our use of foreign oil, hold corporate polluters accountable and cut the pollution that causes climate change. Opponents say the bill will cost companies money and is like an energy tax that would actually reduce jobs. Do you agree more with supporters of the energy bill or opponents of the energy bill?"

And last week, the solar industry released a census, which did, in fact, show staggering gains in the clean energy job market.

But are these findings from non-partisan sources or just another push poll?

The NRDC Action Fund is open about its mission.

“Our current goal is a comprehensive clean energy policy that will repower our economy and fuel our future,” states the organization’s website.

But Public Policy Polling has been identified as an accurate, indeed one of the most accurate, polling organizations by the Wall Street Journal for its swing vote polling back in 2008. Its recent polling of the Delaware Republican Senate primary was recognized by both the Washington Post and Politico.

But whether the goal of these polls was to outline challenges for incumbent campaigns in swing states, the message that clean energy is a hot-button issue among voters can be heard nationwide.

"Our poll presented our opposition's main, misleading talking point—that a climate bill is akin to an energy tax," said Heather Taylor-Miesle, NRDC Action Fund director, quoted in a press release. "Voters overwhelmingly rejected this idea in favor of a bill that creates millions of new jobs, reduces our use of foreign oil, holds corporate polluters accountable and cuts the pollution that causes climate change."

Pictured: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I), talks to a crowd behind a solar paneled podium. Image courtesy of Sanders.senate.gov.