Americans’ Views on US Fossil Fuel Policy and Clean Energy

Solid majorities of Americans would support the Obama administration permanently protecting the Arctic and Atlantic from drilling and preventing the expansion of new leases on public lands and waters. Partisan and generational divides do exist, however, with substantial majorities of independents and Democrats opposed to leasing and millennials appreciably more opposed than seniors. Americans across all parties are exceedingly positive about increasing development of renewables and would like to see this as the country’s energy priority — 93% of Democrats, 90% or Independents, and 84% of Republicans support expanding development of renewable energy sources. Americans have a host of concerns about continued fossil fuel development, with health issues chief among them. Two in three Americans say we should keep fossil fuels in the ground to help address climate change.