This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including national polling on gas exports, household electrification, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law / IIJA, and Americans’ trust in scientists plus new polling of Latino voters in Georgia.

See this page for links to the following resources.

HEADLINES

Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress – Voters want to limit gas exports and are amenable to several arguments against new exports, including arguments about costs, climate damage, pollution, and fossil fuel dependence [Article, Crosstabs]

Yale + GMU + UCSB + Rewiring America – The majority of Americans say that they want to live in a home where all or most appliances are electric [Article]

Navigator – Voters continue to widely support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law two years after it was signed into law; replacing lead-contaminated pipes is the single most popular part of the legislation [Release, Deck]

Pew – Americans’ trust in scientists is declining, but the overwhelming majority still have confidence that scientists act in the best interests of the public [Article, Full Report, Topline]

[GA Latino Voters] Climate Power + BSP Research + GALEO – Latino voters in Georgia widely prioritize action on climate change, but are hearing little about the Biden administration’s climate legislation or about new clean energy projects [Memo]

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Voters are wary about gas exports. Fossil Free Media and Data for Progress find that voters want the Biden administration to slow down on approving any new gas export projects like CP2. Majorities want the U.S. to limit gas exports, and voters are particularly swayed by the argument that the country can’t afford to be increasing gas exports at a time when domestic energy prices are so high. 
   
• Americans are not nearly as wedded to gas appliances as media narratives suggest. Newly released polling from Yale, GMU, UCSB, and Rewiring America affirms that the majority of Americans want to live in a home with all or mostly electric-powered appliances. In contrast to the media’s “culture war” framing of the gas stove debate, polls consistently show that Americans – including Republicans – prefer electric appliances over gas-powered appliances in their homes.

GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT

• [Electrification] 60% of Americans say that they would prefer to live in a home where all or most major appliances are powered by electricity [Yale + GMU + UCSB + Rewiring America]
   
• [Infrastructure] Voters support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law / IIJA by a nearly three-to-one margin (65% support / 22% oppose) after reading a brief description of it [Navigator]
   
• [Lead Pipes] 87% of voters support replacing and upgrading water pipes that are contaminated with lead as part of the infrastructure legislation that was passed by President Biden and Congress [Navigator]
   
• [Gas Exports] 62% of voters support pausing all new natural gas export projects until proper reviews are completed on these projects’ impacts on local communities, the environment, and energy prices [Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress]
   
• [Gas Exports] 60% of voters support the Biden administration taking measures to limit the amount of gas that the United States exports to other countries [Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress]