Voters Support Federal Investments to Reduce Pollution From the Manufacturing Sector
By Danielle Deiseroth
The materials used to build America, like concrete, steel, and plastics, generate an enormous amount of harmful emissions that contribute to climate change. The industrial sector is responsible for nearly a third of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing emissions from industrial manufacturing processes is key to averting the worst impacts of climate change. Today, the White House announced a series of critical initiatives to reduce emissions from the industrial sector.
In a February 2022 national survey, Data for Progress asked likely voters whether they support or oppose a set of federal investments to reduce pollution from industrial manufacturing and accelerate the development of new clean energy sources. We find that voters across party lines are widely supportive of these investments.
While concrete and steel are essential for building infrastructure, the production of these materials adds a staggering amount to global greenhouse gas emissions: The cement and steel industries combined contribute at least 16 percent of anthropogenic emissions. By a +49-point margin, voters support federal investments to reduce pollution from these energy-intensive industries (71 percent support, 22 percent oppose). These investments enjoy support from nearly all Democrats (89 percent), over two-thirds of Independents (71 percent), and a majority of Republicans (52 percent).
Given its immense purchasing power, the Biden Administration can leverage the federal procurement process to help accelerate the production of more sustainable industrial materials and create new, good-paying jobs. There is a near-unanimous consensus among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans that the U.S. government should prioritize using taxpayer dollars to purchase construction materials made in America and create minimal pollution rather than purchasing the cheapest materials available to cut down on costs.
Similarly, by a +46-point margin, voters support the federal government directly using its purchasing power to accelerate the production of American-made clean energy technologies and sustainable materials. Again, these investments are well-received across party lines. Democrats support clean procurement by a +72-point margin, Independents by a +52-point margin, and Republicans by a +12-point margin.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes significant amounts of federal funding to accelerate the development of clean energy sources that will power the production of sustainable industrial materials, and voters widely support these investments. The $8 billion investment in regional hubs to develop clean hydrogen enjoys support from roughly two-thirds of voters (67 percent), including nearly all Democrats (83 percent), a majority of Independents (67 percent), and a plurality of Republicans (49 percent).
Finally, as America looks to be a leader in the global clean energy economy, voters widely support federal investments to train workers for success in industries relating to new clean energy technologies. Over three-quarters of all voters (77 percent), including majorities of Democrats (92 percent), Independents (81 percent), and Republicans (58 percent), support federal workforce training programs for the clean energy industry.
Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Senior Climate Strategist at Data for Progress.