Issue: Efficiency

In Cleveland, OH, the nonprofit Cleveland Owns is incubating the state's first community-owned solar developer, Cleveland Solar Cooperative, which was the subject of a recent case study funded by the Climate Advocacy Lab. On this webinar, you'll hear from the organizers who are running this experiment in Energy Democracy in Cleveland.

This post includes a roundup of climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from this week’s public polls – including a major new report on Americans’ shifting climate change attitudes from the Yale and GMU programs on climate change communication, plus fresh polling about the Build Back Better plan and how voters view climate-friendly policies in the context of rising living costs and gas prices.

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from this week’s public polls – including lots of new polling about international climate action ahead of COP26, fresh new polling on the Build Back Better plan, and new polls on corporate accountability, household energy costs, and the personal impacts of climate change.

Majorities of likely voters support the climate investment and tax incentives of Build Back Better. 70% of all likely voters support investments to make homes, buildings, and schools more energy efficiency (86% support among Democrats, 54% among Republians). 67% support investments in clean energy research. 65% support tax credits for clean energy projects. 63% support clean energy performance incentives for utilities. 62% support investments in frontline communities. 57% support creating a Civilian Climate Corps. 57% support investments to make electric vehicles more affordable. 54% support phasing out coal, oil, and gas.             

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines from this week’s public polls, good data points to highlight, and a full roundup including key takeaways from each poll.
HEADLINES

Navigator – There is stable majority support for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, and voters increasingly recognize infrastructure as a priority for Biden and Congress (Topline)
Data for Progress + Invest in America – Details boost support for the reconciliation proposal; school modernization, grid modernization, and long-term care investments are especially popular (Release, Topline)
Fox News + POLITICO/Morning Consult – Reactions to the reconciliation package are heavily dependent on framing; voters have a mixed reaction to $3.5 trillion in “social infrastructure” from Democrats in Congress but widely support $3.5 trillion in “spending to address climate change, health care, and childcare” (Fox News Release, POLITICO/Morning Consult Topline, POLITICO/Morning Consult Crosstabs)
Quinnipiac – Most Americans believe recent extreme weather events are related to climate change; concerns about extreme weather are driven sharply by partisanship and geography (Release)
Data for Progress – Voters support ending fossil fuel subsidies, especially when subsidies are framed as unnecessary “bailouts” for hugely profitable corporations (Release, Topline)

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines from this week’s public polls, good data points to highlight, and a full roundup including key takeaways from each poll.
HEADLINES

Climate Power + LCV – Investments in clean energy, climate action, and environmental justice bolster support for the reconciliation bill; the most persuasive messages focus on economic aspects including how the bill will lower costs for households (Slide Deck)
Climate Power + Data for Progress – Voters support a range of climate-related proposals that were left out of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, especially clean electricity incentives, investments in energy efficiency, and investments in solar and wind (Release, Memo, Topline)
POLITICO + Morning Consult – Voters continue to back the bipartisan infrastructure bill, especially investments in roads, bridges, and water infrastructure; voters are more split on the reconciliation package, but overwhelmingly support expanded home care for the elderly and disabled (Topline, Crosstabs)
Data for Progress – Voters think that oil and gas companies have too much power, especially after learning about comments made by a senior Exxon lobbyist; “oil and gas companies” are a more compelling villain than “fossil fuel companies” (Release, Topline)
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication + George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication – Petition signing is the most appealing ask to get voters involved in climate advocacy, and there is clear interest in community preparedness groups (Summary, Full Report)