Measuring the Current: 77% of Voters Agree More Transmission Is Important
By Eva Brungard
To unlock the renewable energy potential of the Inflation Reduction Act, the build-out of transmission infrastructure is key. Unlike smaller power lines often seen in more densely populated communities, transmission infrastructure includes the high-voltage lines used to carry energy long distances, from one point of the electric power system to another.
Data for Progress recently surveyed 1,202 likely voters to better understand public perceptions of transmission infrastructure. An overwhelming, bipartisan majority of voters (77%) believe that building more transmission is important for the U.S.
Respondents were asked if they have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of various types of infrastructure projects being built in their community, including nuclear power plants, solar panel farms, overhead and underground transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, and underground broadband internet cables.
Notably, despite thinking that the expansion of the transmission grid is important, many voters are not informed enough to have strong views about transmission projects being built in their community. When asked about overhead transmission lines being built in their community, more than a third of respondents (34%) have not heard enough to say, with the remainder of respondents split between a favorable opinion (30%) and an unfavorable opinion (36%). Unsurprisingly, underground lines are more favorable (52%) despite being cost prohibitive for developers to date, though 34% of voters still haven’t heard enough to say their opinions. As a whole, underground infrastructure projects are perceived more favorably by voters than those which have a visible footprint, with the exception of solar panel farms (63% favorable).
In general, the vast majority of American voters (90%) have heard little to nothing at all about transmission lines. This low salience suggests that the attitudes toward transmission infrastructure may not be particularly firm, and subject to voters learning more about and encountering transmission lines in their own communities or those nearby.
Indeed, after reading a description of transmission lines that included information about their role in the electric power system and noted that these lines are typically placed overhead, 55% of voters say they would support a transmission line being built in their community. Support is slightly lower among Black (49%) voters, compared with white (57%) and Latino (66%) voters.
A subsequent question asked voters how they think new transmission would impact the reliability of electricity. A majority of respondents (60%) agree that new transmission would improve reliability, leading to fewer blackouts and outages.
When asked about the impact of transmission build-out on their electricity bills, a plurality of voters (41%) believe that transmission projects would increase rates, compared with 23% who expect they would decrease rates. New transmission is expected to lower energy costs through increased efficiency, reduced congestion, more renewable sources of energy, and a lower risk of blackouts; however, consumer costs could increase if a utility raises rates to cover the cost of new infrastructure.
Respondents were also asked about their preferences for the ownership and operation of transmission lines. Most voters (58%) prefer a publicly owned and operated transmission system, compared with just 24% who support private ownership. The support for public ownership holds across party lines, with Democrats (61%), Independents (53%) and Republicans (58%) all in support of publicly owned transmission.
Respondents were then asked how they think landowners should be compensated for transmission lines built on their lands. Voters most want landowners to be compensated by recurring lease payments for the land (33%), followed by recurring royalty payments based on the revenue generated by the transmission lines (27%). Just 15% of voters support a one-time, lump sum payment for landowners, suggesting that, overall, voters want to see ongoing compensation for the impacts that landowners bear due to transmission projects.
Finally, respondents read a list of potential features of a transmission project, and were asked which three attributes would be the most important to gain their support for building a transmission line in their community. Voters most want a new transmission line to lower their energy bills (56%), followed by making the grid more reliable (50%) and enabling clean energy (43%). Very few respondents cite the need for a new transmission line not to ruin their view (15%) or take up a small amount of land (16%) as important for securing their support. Notably, no respondents in the sample say they would not support a transmission line being built in their community at all.
While voters have a general understanding of the importance of more transmission lines for the United States, more education is needed to inform voters of the ramifications of transmission lines in their communities and on the electric system as a whole.
Eva Brungard is a climate and energy program intern at Data for Progress.
Survey Methodology
From September 20 to 23, 2024, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,202 U.S. likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, geography, and 2020 recalled vote. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error associated with the sample size is ±3 percentage points. Results for subgroups of the sample are subject to increased margins of error. Partisanship reflected in tabulations is based on self-identified party affiliation, not partisan registration. For more information please visit dataforprogress.org/our-methodology.