WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), a conservative organization advancing clean energy policies, released a study of registered voters that revealed broad, bipartisan approval of increased government support for clean energy development and commonsense, “all-of-the-above” climate solutions.
The study found that 74% of Americans, including 59% of Republicans, support increased government action to boost clean energy development while 52% of voters are in favor of an “all of the above” approach, including fossil fuels, to achieve U.S. energy independence. Further, a significant percent of voters (73 percent) support streamlining and reforming government regulations that hamper the transition to clean energy, including wind, solar and hydropower projects.
“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.”
Public Opinion Strategies conducted this latest poll on behalf of CRES from December 28, 2020, through January 4, 2021. The national survey of more than 1,050 registered voters gauged support for various climate change and clean energy proposals and concepts. Among the clean energy proposals polled, the survey revealed that 82% of voters, including 78% of Republicans, support providing tax credits to companies and individuals that invest in clean energy projects; two-thirds of voters consider “planting more trees… to naturally store carbon dioxide” an effective climate proposal with 39% of voters ranking it “extremely effective;” and 74% of voters approve of financial incentives for agricultural producers to increase sustainable farming practices with 77% of voters supporting the creation of a voluntary carbon market for farmers.
“Most voters on both sides of the political spectrum are not after far-right or far-left policies when it comes to clean energy solutions,” said former New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, a senior advisor to CRES, during the Atlantic Council’s recent Common Ground on Climate Bipartisan Summit last Friday. “What this poll confirms is that where voters share common ground is on commonsense policy ideas such as the Trillion Trees Act and voluntary agriculture carbon markets, like those addressed in the Growing Climate Solutions Act, that will make significant improvements to our climate without heavy-handed mandates. If voters can meet in the middle on these solutions, I’m confident that policymakers can too.” The Common Ground on Climate Bipartisan Summit was co-hosted by CRES’s sister organization, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions Forum, the American Conservation Coalition, the Atlantic Council, and Dream Corps Green for All.
The study also found strong voter support for transparency. A majority of voters (61%) support establishing a federal consumer-oriented labeling system to denote which companies have voluntarily followed through on their commitments to report and reduce their emissions. Additionally, 72% of all voters, and 61% of Republicans, support requiring both foreign and domestic companies to label their products based on the type of energy used in production while 70% of all voters and 60% of Republicans support requiring government contractors to disclose carbon emissions in the production of their goods and materials.
For more detailed survey results, click here.
###
Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES) (www.citizensfor.com) engages Republican policymakers and the public about responsible, conservative solutions to address our nation’s energy, economic, and environmental security while increasing America’s competitive edge. CRES recently launched Clean Energy Forward, a campaign to highlight the importance of clean energy policies in reviving the economy.