Now More Than Ever, Voters Support Ramping Up Clean Energy Production in the U.S.
By Danielle Deiseroth
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused global energy prices to skyrocket. At this moment, President Biden and his supporters on Capitol Hill are forcefully calling out moves by Big Oil CEOs to profit off Putin’s war. While a concerted effort to fight high prices at the pump is taking place, members of Congress are also envisioning a world where we achieve true energy independence through clean energy. As Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm discussed with business leaders on Wednesday, the clean energy industry is growing exponentially right now and Congress has the opportunity to turbocharge it by passing climate provisions.
What do voters think about these steps taken by Democrats in power? In a March 2022 national survey, Data for Progress and Climate Power assessed likely voters’ attitudes toward Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting impacts on energy prices. We find that voters across party lines support investments to advance clean energy production in America and hold oil and gas companies accountable for price shocks.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has illuminated the urgency of reducing America’s dependence on volatile global oil markets and increasing clean energy production at home. Over two-thirds of all voters (69 percent), including nearly all Democrats (87 percent), two-thirds of Independents (66 percent), and a majority of Republicans (54 percent), say that in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the federal government should invest in domestic clean energy production.
Oil and gas prices have risen steeply over the past year, and oil and gas companies posted record profits as a result. Now, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made oil prices reach record highs, and oil and gas companies are continuing to profit. There is a bipartisan consensus that oil and gas companies should not use the current energy crisis to benefit their bottom lines. Three-quarters of all voters (75 percent), including majorities of Democrats (80 percent), Independents (73 percent), and Republicans (72 percent), do not want Wall Street and corporate shareholders to profit off the current energy crisis.
To combat steep energy prices and further cripple Russia’s economy, voters support a variety of proposals to free America and our allies from depending on oil and gas. Nearly three-quarters of voters (73 percent) support ramping up the production of wind and solar energy. Voters are equally supportive of a national gas tax holiday to suspend the federal gas tax. Additionally, a majority of voters (62 percent) support providing consumer rebates to make electric vehicles more affordable. Since Europe heavily depends on Russian gas, 54 percent of voters support America manufacturing and sending heat pumps — heating and cooling systems that don’t rely on natural gas — to our European allies.
These proposals enjoy bipartisan support. Strong majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans support ramping up the production of wind and solar energy as well as declaring a national gas tax holiday. Moreover, majorities of Democrats and Independents and a plurality of Republicans support consumer rebates to make electric vehicles more affordable and manufacturing and sending heat pumps to Europe.
It’s clear that this moment is transcending partisan divides. Democrats, Independents, and Republicans recognize the urgency and importance of moving away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy. Moreover, voters recognize that oil and gas companies should not take advantage of skyrocketing energy prices to benefit their Wall Street shareholders. Lawmakers should feel confident making bold investments in clean energy to combat the dual crises of energy independence and the climate crisis.
Danielle Deiseroth is the Lead Climate Strategist at Data for Progress.