Issue: Natural Gas

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including new poll releases from Gallup about Americans’ environmental concerns and the impacts of extreme weather experiences on people’s climate views, and a new poll of voters’ attitudes about fossil fuels and clean energy in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including a major new report from the Pew Research Center about the clean energy transition, two new polls assessing Americans’ climate attitudes from conservative perspectives, and new polling about energy insecurity among low-income Americans.

69% of Americans believe we should prioritize developing renewable energy alternatives. Just 30% believe the U.S. should prioritize increased fossil fuel production. However, 67% believe we should keep a mix of renewables and fossil fuels, as compared to phasing out fossil fuels completely (31%). Democrats are far more in favor of renewables—as compared to fossil fuels—than Republicans, although both sets of voters have internal divisions within them, too. 75% of Americans support America playing a role in international climate negotiations. 72% of Americans support the U.S. government encouraging wind and solar production, compared to 51% for electric vehicles, 35% for nuclear power, 33% for oil and gas drilling, and 20% for coal mining. 69% of Americans favor the U.S. taking steps to become carbon-neutral by 2050. This survey includes lots more related questions.

In terms of public opinion, energy issues enjoy the least partisan divide while environmental issues, such as climate change, are the most partisan. Over the past year, there has been an increase in the number of Americans who say human-caused pollution contributes to climate change—from 79% to 82%—and say their lives have been impacted by climate change—from 39% to 53%. 46% say “energy issues, like the cost of energy and energy reliability” are extremely important—including 46% of Democrats and 47% of Republicans. 41% overall say “environmental issues, like clean air, clean water, climate change, and clean energy” are extremely important—including 60% of Democrats and just 20% of Republicans. Voters say they are generally more likely to support candidates who are pro-clean energy. Republican and independent voters generally favor natural gas. Just 16% of voters think the U.S. is energy independent.

A majority of Georgia residents strongly support new solar and wind power capacity over new coal-fired plants and believe the state should set a carbon emissions reduction goal. 60% of Georgia residents support the creation of a state carbon emissions reduction goal, which includes 74% of Democrats, 52% of independents, and 45% of Republicans. 70% support new solar power and 64% support new wind power. Only 30% support new coal-fired power plants. 75% of Democrats, 55% of independents, and 49% of Republicans supported development of a climate resiliency plan for Georgia to prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Advocates should keep connecting gas to methane (and avoid calling gas “natural”), focus on electrification (not on banning gas), and highlight that renewable energy will create more jobs. Adults are largely unaware that gas is primarily composed of methane: 53% say natural gas is clean energy. 76% view natural gas favorably, but only 30% view methane gas favorably. Methane regulation is popular: 72% adults, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, support requiring oil and gas companies to install technology to reduce methane leaks, and 65% also support the EPA establishing stronger regulations. Electrification is also popular: 63% of adults support requiring new homes and buildings to be wired for electric appliances and electric vehicle charging, even if they’re also fitted for gas. 50% of Americans support their “local government requiring newly constructed homes and buildings to be 100% electric,” an increase of seven points over the last two years, while roughly 36% support their “local government banning the use of natural gas in newly constructed homes and buildings.” This survey asked more questions that are reported in this memo.