Resources
Search below for resources covering the intersection of climate engagement, social science and data analytics.
RESULTS
Organizing local support for clean energy projects
In this episode, David talks with Matt Traldi, co-founder of Greenlight America, about the fight for clean energy at the local level. They discuss how small groups of opponents are successfully blocking renewable projects across the country, and how Matt’s organization is working to turn the tide by mobilizing local supporters and giving them the tools to advocate effectively at critical government meetings.
Voters Say IRA Is Here To Stay
The electorate has a growing awareness of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and its energy efficiency and electrification incentives: 63% of respondents say they are somewhat or very interested in pursuing home electrification and efficiency upgrades. This includes 70% of Latino Americans, 66% of Black Americans, 60% of White Americans, and 58% of rural Americans. Additionally, voters report that the components of the IRA that make them more likely to support federal investments in clean energy and energy efficiency focus on potential cost savings from energy efficiency upgrades and the creation of new clean energy jobs. In addition to voters overall, majorities of voters across partisanship favor keeping various IRA incentives, rather than ending them. After reading that components of the IRA may face repeal by a new administration, voters say that losing household energy savings or economy-wide air quality improvement benefits are among the most concerning outcomes of IRA repeal.
EPC Community Poll Wave 1 Briefing: IRA Incentives, Home Electrification, and Messaging Against IRA Repeal
If defending against Congressional efforts to revoke the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), call it a "repeal" of incentives that are lowering costs for Americans, not a "rollback". Poll testing indicates "repeal" generates more opposition. Positive statements about the IRA increase support, especially messages about the jobs and tax savings that have been created. Energy unreliability and air pollution/health impacts are the top reasons to keep the IRA. Even Majorities of Republicans want to keep IRA incentives. There is an overall strong belief that efficiency upgrades would be helpful, and belief in pro-clean energy statements is higher than opposition statements. There is, however, low awareness of local energy investments related to the IRA and low awareness of repeal efforts. Understanding of terminology varies: "Energy justice" & "Energy equity" are not well understood, while "energy efficiency" and "weatherization" are well understood by Americans. Regarding personal behaviors, cost savings are a key motivator of efficiency & electrification upgrades, while upfront costs and uncertainty about qualification are key barriers. Responses are broadly similar across race, though Black voters are slightly more concerned about certain impacts of IRA repeal, while rural voters tend to show slightly less support for IRA policies.
How is electrification going?
In this episode, David Roberts chats with Ari Matusiak, co-founder and head of Rewiring America, which recently received a $2 billion grant from the feds to take home electrification mainstream. They dig into the practical challenges — getting local contractors on board, simplifying rebate access — and the enormous opportunities.
Poll: No Public Money for Bad Actors: Voters Don’t Want Law-Violating Developers to Get Federal Clean Energy Funding
Voters overwhelmingly support government investment in clean infrastructure projects and don’t want funding to go to bad actors with histories of pollution. Around two-thirds of voters (67% support / 23% oppose) support investments in clean infrastructure projects such as solar and carbon capture after reading that the U.S. Department of Energy is awarding funding for these projects following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These investments earn overwhelming support from Democrats (85%) and independents (69%), and are also supported by half of Republicans (50% support / 38% oppose). Large majorities of voters, including 79%+ of Democrats and 65%+ of Republicans, say that developers should be required to be in compliance with various laws in order to receive federal funding for clean infrastructure projects.
6 months later, many voters unsure what to make of Biden’s billions
A hard-fought presidential campaign has yet to persuade majorities of voters that the president’s landmark spending initiatives have made their lives better. New polling found that fewer than 3 in 10 voters said President Joe Biden’s big legislative policy changes had improved their lives and communities. Voters’ attitudes about massive domestic spending initiatives have either barely budged or slightly dimmed since April, despite six more months of campaigning by both parties in the run-up to next week’s election. People were more likely than they were last spring to say they don’t know what effect the laws have had. Self-described political independents are significantly more bullish on the president’s climate law than they were six months ago, the survey found. And the number of voters who called the Biden-backed laws harmful was significantly lower than those who said the legislation had either benefited them or had a mixed impact: just 24% said the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has “positively” affected them, while 19% said it has had negative effects and 24% called it a mix.
Rare Conversation: “Sparking Change to Electrify Clean Energy Adoption”
Small, diffuse changes at the household and community level can complement big policy shifts towards emissions reductions. 42% of US energy-related emissions come from homes and vehicles. This resource featured a conversation between Kevin Green, Vice President for Rare’s Center for Behavior & the Environment and Sarah Lazarovic, Vice President of Communications and Creative Strategy at Rewiring America. “Of course, we need to rework huge policy interventions to make this feasible for people. But also as humans, there are many things that we not only can do, but have to do to make this happen,” according to Lazarovic. When she swapped out her gas furnace for a heat pump, she brought her household emissions down by 75%. Part of the confusion among Americans is that there are so many solutions presented to people, that many people begin to experience cognitive fatigue and choice overload.
Environmental Polling Roundup – September 13th, 2024
This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including polling on support for the Inflation Reduction Act, plastic pollution regulation, solar energy policies, and concern about climate impacts.
Michigan’s future includes lower monthly energy costs, the freedom to live without pollution, and more good-paying jobs and a growing middle class. Michigan’s economy is surging, supercharged by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and a suite of nation-leading clean energy bills passed by the Michigan state government last November. Michigan now has more clean energy projects than any other state and is ranked fourth in the country for new clean energy jobs. Clean energy businesses, which are creating jobs and growing the state’s workforce, are the first to say it: They are planting their stakes in Michigan, largely thanks to strong climate policies. The latest analysis from 5 Lakes Energy (PDF) shows that the state’s climate legislation package, in tandem with the IRA, goes way beyond cutting climate pollution. It will create economy-wide change by saving Michigan families hundreds of dollars in energy bills, bringing more clean energy jobs and investments into the state, and protecting communities from the harmful effects of pollution.
Developing a supply chain for American-made batteries
One challenge that climate policy folks are working on is developing the supply chain to make batteries in the U.S. There has been an epic battle over the past 20 years between two types of lithium-ion batteries: nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). While NMC still boasts better energy density, LFP is making a major comeback thanks to its safer, more accessible materials and improving performance. However, China still dominates the LFP supply chain. In this episode, CEO Vivas Kumar of startup Mitra Chem weighs in on why America needs domestic production of LFP materials.
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