Voters Place Good Jobs, Expanded Clean Energy, and Lower Costs at the Heart of the Bidenomics Agenda
By Grace Adcox
New polling from Climate Power and Data for Progress finds that voters strongly agree about the benefits associated with expanding domestic clean energy production and manufacturing, and that sharing about the specific achievements of President Biden’s economic strategy positively impacts support for his plan.
The survey asked respondents about their attitudes toward President Biden’s economic agenda, or “Bidenomics,” finding that half of voters (50%) — including strong majorities of Black (75%) and Latino voters (63%) — are in support. After voters read about some of the progress made under Bidenomics, that support level grows to 57%, including an overwhelming proportion of Democrats (92%) and a majority of Independents (54%). Black and Latino voters’ support for Biden’s economic agenda also surges after reading about these achievements, to 83% and 68%, respectively.
Voters broadly agree about the benefits that Bidenomics offers for workers and the middle class in America. When asked about a series of statements describing the efforts of the Biden administration and congressional Democrats on job creation, clean energy, and the economy, respondents strongly agree with each of the job statements tested. A strong majority (71%) of voters across party lines agree that building clean energy infrastructure like plants and manufacturing facilities with Made in America goods and jobs will lay the foundation for long-term economic growth, including 86% of Democrats, 66% of Independents, and 60% of Republicans.
Eighty-eight percent of Democrats, 66% of Independents, and 50% of Republicans agree that investing in training our future clean energy workforce will benefit our climate while strengthening our economy. We also find nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) agree that investing in new clean energy will support thousands of Americans and their families with good-paying jobs, while 63% agree that offering “good-paying union jobs” to workers is key to both growing the domestic clean energy supply and expanding the production of semiconductor chips that power clean energy technology.
With the achievements of the Bidenomics agenda ranging from lower prescription drug costs to the elimination of junk fees for consumers, the cost of living remains a highly salient issue for members of Congress to speak about with their constituents. Presented with statements regarding cost-saving measures passed under the Biden administration, including the expansion of clean energy resources and clean energy household tax rebates, voters agree that these measures both can and should seek to lower costs for American families. Seventy percent of voters agree that providing clean energy household tax rebates can lower costs for consumers while benefiting our environment. We also find 69% of respondents agree on the importance of expanding clean energy production to lower energy costs for families.
Not only do voters strongly support the Bidenomics clean energy plan, they also want to see action taken against fossil fuel producers that have taken advantage of consumers with high prices while polluting our environment. Voters across party lines agree (70%) that lawmakers should prevent oil and gas companies from making excessive profits off Americans in the context of record-breaking oil and gas profits over the past year. This includes strong majorities of Democrats (86%) and Independents (66%), and also a majority of Republicans (55%).
Ultimately, job creation and lowering costs for Americans go hand in hand under the Bidenomics agenda. When asked in another survey conducted by Climate Power and Data for Progress about the government’s role in shaping clean energy and clean technology costs, voters express strong agreement across partisanship that the government has a role to play in delivering lower costs for American families while expanding clean energy and clean technology production.
Nearly 4 of 5 voters (79%), including 68% of Republicans and 77% of Independents, agree that our government should provide incentives to businesses and consumers that lower the cost of clean energy technologies. A strong majority of voters (70%) across party lines also agree that our government should invest in expanding the production of clean energy and clean technologies while reducing carbon emissions and lowering clean energy costs.
As Congress leaves D.C. for August recess ahead of tough fights to come in September, members should take this opportunity to share with their constituents and communities the successes of the Bidenomics agenda — starting with the climate wins of the past several years. Voters clearly acknowledge that expanding our clean energy production is critical to creating sustainable, good-paying jobs while also lowering costs for Americans in communities across the country.
Read the full memo on this survey here.
Grace Adcox (@GraceAdcox) is a polling analyst at Data for Progress.