A Year After the Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Key Climate Provisions of the Law Enjoy Strong Support Across the Electorate
By Grace Adcox, Danielle Deiseroth, and Catherine Fraser
As the White House and members of Congress tout the achievements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on its first anniversary, voters continue to broadly support the policies included in this landmark climate legislation, despite having limited awareness of the bill by name. Data for Progress recently surveyed national voters to assess how support for key climate provisions of the IRA has shifted since the midterm elections, and we find strong, continued support for policies that lower energy costs and ramp up clean energy production, while also creating the foundation for an American-made “manufacturing renaissance” delivering good-paying jobs across the country.
At the Inflation Reduction Act’s anniversary, we observe that topline support for the IRA’s climate provisions remains strong. The most popular provision across party lines — with 80% overall support and the backing of 75% of both Independents and Republicans — is standards to ensure businesses receiving clean energy tax credits pay their workers a fair wage and make their goods in America.
In the year since the signing of the IRA, developers have moved forward with 272 new clean energy projects across 44 states, creating more than 170,000 new clean energy jobs and generating $278 billion in new investments for communities. In light of these clean energy project announcements, we find that 73% of national voters support ramping up the production of American-made clean energy technologies, including 84% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 67% of Republicans.
When asked about the IRA’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program, nearly three-quarters (73%) of voters support penalties for oil and gas companies that contribute excess methane pollution to the environment, including 87% of Democrats, 70% of Independents, and 60% of Republicans. We also find a majority of voters across party lines support (71%) the IRA’s investments to reduce pollution and improve public health in areas disproportionately impacted by climate change through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, including 67% of Independents and 56% of Republicans.
The IRA includes significant investments and incentives to jump-start American development of new clean energy technologies, benefiting our economy and planet by accelerating the transition to a clean energy future. As IRA project investments are distributed across the country and Americans begin to experience the impacts in their communities, critical climate provisions of the bill have gained in popularity.
In communities from Nevada to New York, EV, battery, and wind turbine manufacturers have brokered agreements with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, United Mine Workers (UMW) union, IUE-CWA unions, and other groups to set strong wages, establish job training programs, and recruit union, minority, and female workers. On top of the IRA's existing labor provisions, Vice President Kamala Harris announced last week the Biden administration’s plans to raise wage standards for construction workers across the country. We find increased support among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans for the Made in America and fair wage standards included in the IRA compared with last November (from 76% to 80% support).
We also find that tax credits for clean energy technologies have gained in popularity since the midterm elections. Just a year into the IRA’s tenure, these tax credits are spurring investment and clean energy development. Citing the IRA’s tax credits, Meyer Burger announced plans for a solar manufacturing facility in Colorado, investing $400 million in a facility that will create over 350 jobs paying an average of $77,000 per year. Similarly taking advantage of the IRA’s tax credits at its West Virginia factory, battery manufacturer SPARKZ plans to hire around 3,000 workers in partnership with the UMW union in an effort to specifically recruit former mine workers as part of the clean energy transition. In November 2022, 65% of voters, including a plurality of Republican voters, supported these tax credits. Our most recent survey finds that 69% of voters now support these tax credits, including majorities of voters across partisanship.
Penalties for excess methane pollution and investments in disadvantaged communities to reduce pollution and improve public health also each saw higher levels of support in July compared with last year (from 69% to 73% support and 67% to 71% support, respectively).
Notably, Republican voters are responsible for the greatest share of increased support for climate provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act in the past year. Republican support for all six provisions tested increased between last November and this July, with penalties for excess methane emitters receiving the greatest increase in support, from 51% to 60%. Clean energy tax credits for businesses also experienced an 8 percent increase in support (from 49% to 57%). Republican support for the IRA’s fair wage and Made in America standards also rose — from 69% to 75% — while support for ramping up the production of clean energy technologies increased from 61% support in November to 67% this summer. Measures to reduce pollution and improve public health and household energy efficiency rebates also gained support from Republicans since November, reflecting the success of the IRA’s climate policies in capturing support from across the electorate.
As implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act continues across the country, voters strongly support the landmark climate policies included in this legislation. In the face of continued pushback and threats to repeal elements of the IRA, it is critical to protect the existing climate wins of the bill to maximize the IRA’s potential to lower climate emissions.
Grace Adcox (@GraceAdcox) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.
Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Executive Director at Data for Progress.
Catherine Fraser (@cathwfraser) is the Senior Climate and Energy Program Associate at Data for Progress.