Poll: Voters want Congress to back clean energy investments in upcoming budget bills

(Washington, D.C., September 27, 2021) – EDF Action, the advocacy partner of the Environmental Defense Fund, today released a national poll commissioned by Morning Consult showing broad support among registered voters for investing in clean energy and environmental protection as part of infrastructure and budget strategies currently before Congress.

A strong majority of these voters are also more likely to support a candidate running for Congress in their state who supports investments in U.S. clean energy technologies and jobs in the pending infrastructure and budget plans.

Key Poll Findings:

· 85% of registered voters surveyed support funding to replace lead pipes that carry drinking water, including 86% of moderates and 81% of independents. Overall, 81% of registered voters, including 86% of moderates and 77% of independents, support funding for reducing air pollution in highly polluted communities.

· More than two thirds of registered voters support funding for incentivizing power plants to use clean energy (76%), creating jobs in the clean energy sector (74%), boosting clean energy manufacturing (71%) and expanding development and production of clean vehicles (68%).

· Solid majorities of registered (60%), moderate (65%) and independent (56%) voters also back tax credits for new or used electric vehicle purchases

· Majorities of blue-collar (55%), white-collar (60%), moderate (58%) and independent (51%) registered voters view investments in clean energy jobs as mostly positive for the U.S. job market. Overall, registered voters surveyed see investment in clean energy jobs as positive for reducing climate pollution (61%), the U.S. job market (56%) and the U.S. energy sector (55%).

· Roughly two-thirds of voters say they would be more likely to vote for a congressional candidate if they supported investment in U.S. clean energy jobs (66%) and clean energy technology (63%).

· Voters across the political spectrum view the U.S. government as responsible for environmental protection, reducing climate pollution and spurring clean energy job investment. That includes a clear majority of Republicans who say it is the U.S. government’s responsibility to reduce U.S. climate pollution (65%), invest in U.S. clean energy jobs (62%) and protect the environment (76%).

· At least half of voters surveyed say it is somewhat or very likely the U.S. would fall behind other countries economically (50%) and environmentally (59%) if Congress failed to make investments in clean energy. In addition, 62% said it is likely environmental issues would be difficult to address and 64% said climate pollution would increase if Congress failed to make these investments.

Explore the national polling memo here.

“We have a real opportunity to invest in our future and transform our economy,” EDF Action Senior Vice President of Political Affairs Elizabeth Gore said. “Voters understand this and that’s why they want their elected officials to take action and pass strong climate provisions that not only create good-paying jobs but also invest in clean energy and transportation.”

The survey of 2,000 registered voters was conducted from September 17-20 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.