New research from WRI’s Electric School Bus Initiative and Carleton University shows that the U.S. would see an estimated $1.6 billion in health and climate benefits every year by using electric school buses. The benefits are most pronounced in counties with older diesel buses and larger populations.

This Data for Progress poll shows that a strong, bipartisan majority of voters—across party lines—oppose repealing the Inflation Reduction Act. Most Americans support its clean energy and health care investments, with particularly high approval for policies like domestic clean energy manufacturing, tax credits for renewables and EVs, and pollution reduction in vulnerable communities. It’s a useful snapshot of broad public backing for climate and economic provisions in the IRA.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on Americans’ energy and vehicle preferences, new polling on polluter accountability amid Trump’s push to grant oil and gas companies legal immunity for their climate damages, and new polling of AAPI Americans.

A steady one-half of Americans say that they’re open to purchasing an electric vehicle; hybrids have more appeal than fully electric vehicles, especially among Republicans. Roughly half of Americans (51%) now say that they would consider purchasing an EV, including 3% who report that they already own one, 8% who say that they are “seriously” considering one, and 40% who “might” consider one in the future. While Gallup found an eight-point drop in Americans’ openness to EVs between 2023 (59%) and 2024 (51%), interest appears to have stabilized over the past year. While demographics such as age and education are linked to EV interest, political beliefs overshadow every other factor. Interest in EVs is relatively higher among younger Americans aged 18-34 (64%) and college graduates (61%), and lower than average among Americans aged 55+ (41%) and those without college degrees (46%).

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on extreme weather, clean water, EVs, and voters’ perceptions about the costs of different energy sources.

Large majorities of voters across party lines agree that the federal government should invest in American EV manufacturing jobs, expand EV charging infrastructure, and help make EVs more affordable. 85% of voters say that the federal government should increase the number and reliability of public electric vehicle charging stations. 85% of voters say that the federal government should make electric vehicles more affordable for average Americans and working families. 80% of voters say that the federal government should make investments that create electric vehicle manufacturing jobs in the U.S. 72% of voters say that the federal government should keep the $7,500 tax break for Americans who buy an electric vehicle.

In this episode, David Roberts is joined by Albert Gore to discuss the fate of the electric-vehicle tax credits under the Trump administration. Gore explains how the consumer credit provides a demand-side signal to complement the supply-side manufacturing credits, and why eliminating either would primarily benefit Chinese manufacturers.

This map shows locations of electric vehicle charging stations around the U.S.

Since 2018, the Climate Advocacy Lab has distributed Climate Justice Microgrants to 25 environmental justice and climate justice organizations around the United States who are doing powerful work to protect and improve their communities.

Fuel economy continues to be important to most Americans, and a majority support regulations that push automakers to deliver new vehicles that have fewer emissions and cost less to fuel. 96% of American drivers say fuel economy is at least somewhat important to them when considering what vehicle to purchase or lease, and two-thirds (66%) say it is very important or extremely important. Fuel economy is the most common attribute drivers say has the most room for improvement on their vehicle. This result has been consistent across eight nationally representative surveys conducted over nine years. Strong majorities of both Republicans and Democrats agree that automakers should continue to improve fuel economy across vehicle types; that they expect new generations of vehicles to be more fuel-efficient; and that automakers have a responsibility to consumers to improve gas mileage. Almost two-thirds of Americans (64%) agree that the U.S. government should continue to increase fuel-economy standards. Just 27% of Americans agree that automakers care about lowering fuel costs for their customers.