The Conservative Energy Network (CEN) and Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) released the results of two separate polls in January which both show that American voters support approaches that allow markets and businesses to increase clean energy production.
“Clean energy is not a red vs. blue issue – it’s a red, white and blue issue,” said CRES Executive Director Heather Reams. “American voters understand that when all solutions are on the table and regulations are streamlined, our economy is stronger, our environment is healthier, and our nation maintains its crucial energy independence from all other nations. The Energy Act of 2020 pointed our country in the right direction, but we cannot and should not rest on our laurels. There is no better time for continued Republican leadership on meaningful, bipartisan proposals that aim to mitigate climate change while simultaneously supporting American jobs and technology advancement.”
“CEN polling shows that while voters overwhelmingly want more clean energy, they don’t want progressive policies that grow government and give environmentalists a blank check—policies like the Green New Deal,” said Mark Pischea, CEN President and CEO. “They want conservative policies applied to support the growth of our clean energy economy, and more and more they are showing support for the leaders who embrace commonsense, market-focused policy initiatives to usher in a clean energy future. I’m optimistic that opportunity exists for bi-partisan solutions that will generate enduring clean energy policy—particularly at the state and local levels.”
Key Findings from the CEN Polling include:
The numbers are clear. Eighty-four percent (84%) of voters support the government accelerating the development and use of clean energy in the United States.
These data consistently show that over 70% of voters favor the government taking steps to reduce emissions of gases like carbon dioxide and methane emissions that cause global climate change.
The majority of voters (55%) say climate change was important to how they voted in the November 2020 election.
Nearly three-quarters of voters say it is important that a candidate for political office shares a similar opinion on clean energy issues.
Voters trust the Democratic Party with energy and environmental issues over the GOP.
Politically, voters are decidedly more likely (68%) to vote for a Republican candidate who embraces an innovation-based approach to addressing climate change.
Congressional Republicans would be advised to embrace a conservative approach to addressing clean energy by prioritizing technology innovation and competition.
Clean energy is an electoral winner, two-thirds (68%) of voters would vote for a candidate who supports clean energy development like wind and solar
Key Findings from the CRES Polling Include:
Despite the overall focus on health and the economy, Americans overwhelmingly support the federal government taking action to accelerate the development and use of clean energy and they support requiring businesses to reduce emissions that contribute to air pollution.
Voters across party lines give strong support to four different proposals to expand the federal government’s commitment to clean energy.
Despite attacks on fossil fuel resources, a majority of Americans support an “all of the above” energy strategy to achieve energy independence. (And most Americans do not believe the country is energy independent.)
There is strong support across party lines for greater transparency from companies that produce emissions that harm the environment. At least two-thirds of Americans support each one of the four proposals tested.
By wide margins, voters say they would have more favorable impressions of elected officials who support government action to reduce carbon pollution to combat climate change/encourage the development of clean energy.
While the economy/jobs, Covid and health care are still top of minds for voters, Americans support accelerating clean energy development and favor a number of “low-hanging fruit”/“no regrets” policy ideas regarding natural climate solutions (for example, Trillion Trees or voluntary Ag carbon markets, etc.). And even Democrats support the streamlining and reforming of onerous regulations that slow the transition to clean energy, including wind, solar and hydropower.