This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new national polling on permitting reform, H.R. 1, and offshore drilling + new state-level polling in Nevada.

HEADLINES

Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress – Amid permitting reform debate, voters want to prioritize clean energy over fossil fuels while also maintaining environmental protections (Memo, Crosstabs)

Protect Our Coasts – Voters – including those in coastal states – don’t want to expand offshore drilling (National Voter Memo, Coastal Voter Memo)

[NV] Nevada Independent + Noble Predictive Insights – Nevada voters are deeply concerned about water issues, and few believe that the state is doing enough to address climate change (Article)

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• When it comes to permitting reform, voters don’t want environmental protections lifted for fossil fuel projects or for clean energy projects. Climate Power, Earthjustice, and Data for Progress find that voters oppose lifting environmental and health protections for energy projects regardless of whether they prioritize clean energy or fossil fuels. Majorities across party lines also say that the government can and should develop energy while maintaining existing environmental and health protections, as the public rejects the idea that U.S. energy development isn’t compatible with existing environmental laws.
• Overarching arguments against H.R. 1 are more compelling than the specific policies it contains. Climate Power, Earthjustice, and Data for Progress additionally find that the core energy policies included in congressional Republicans’ H.R. 1 package are all unpopular. However, no one specific policy engenders so much opposition as to be completely toxic. We’ve seen similar data in other polls about H.R. 1 and accordingly recommend that persuasive communications about the package focus on overarching frames – such as the notion that it will further enrich Big Oil CEOs at the expense of everyday people and public health and that it will eliminate core safeguards for the environment and public health – rather than specific policies.
• Water continues to be an everyday concern in the West. Polling commissioned by the Nevada Independent finds that Nevadans are deeply concerned about water availability and the condition of the Colorado River, as the water situation in the West continues to be one of the clearest examples in the country of an environmental issue that has broken through as a top-of-mind concern for the public.

GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT

• [Permitting Reform] 87% of voters say it’s important to incorporate the concerns of communities that are potentially impacted by new energy projects in project planning and decision making, including 53% who say it’s “very important” [Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress]
• [Transmission] 81% of voters support developing new energy transmission projects, such as power lines, to expand America’s power grid [Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress]
• [Clean Energy] 67% of voters, including majorities across party lines, prefer that the federal government increases American energy by increasing clean energy like wind and solar rather than increasing offshore drilling for oil and gas [Protect Our Coasts]
• [Clean Energy] By a 56%-39% margin, voters say that the United States should prioritize clean energy over fossil fuel projects in order to strengthen the country’s energy security [Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress]
• [H.R. 1] By a 52%-40% margin, voters oppose repealing rebates for Americans who purchase energy-efficient electric appliances for their homes [Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress]
• [H.R. 1] By a 49%-40% margin, voters oppose repealing the methane fee for oil and gas companies [Climate Power + Earthjustice + Data for Progress]
• [Nevada] 46% of Nevada voters say that the state isn’t doing enough to address climate change, compared to just 11% who say that the state is doing too much and 25% who say that the state is doing the right amount [Nevada Independent + Noble Predictive Insights]