Despite the millions of dollars being coughed up by the country’s biggest polluters in its campaign against energy reform, and “cap and trade” in particular, public support continues to rise.

Under the “cap and trade” system, companies are capped on the amount of pollution they can emit into the environment, and any excesses result in a fine to the government or a purchase of smaller companies’ unused pollution emissions.

When the Waxman-Markey Clean Energy Bill passed the house earlier this summer, public support for “cap and trade” sat well below the half mark at 44%.  Today, CNN reported that current polling showed the public support for “cap and trade” at an all time high of 60%.

Even more promising is Zogby’s revelation that 71% of Americans now favor the energy bill that has already passed through the House of Representatives, with a strong belief that a movement toward clean energy will result in more jobs for Americans.

Not surprisingly, there is a generational divide in the polling numbers, with the “Obama generation” overwhelmingly in support of stricter emissions standards (68% of the under-50 crowd favors “cap and trade”).  Additionally, Independents are polling “green”, which should also put some pressure on the purple states when the bill reaches the Senate floor.

We’re not there yet, but with support climbing and pressure coming in from all directions, America is getting closer to cleaner energy!

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