Powering the Future: Voters Back Renewable Energy Investment Despite Divides Over Costs and Grid Reliability
By Eva Brungard
In 2021, the United States set a target to reach a 100% carbon-free electric grid by 2035. With more than 60% of electricity being generated by fossil fuels, the electricity sector is the second-largest source of national greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 25% of emissions in 2022. Decarbonizing the electricity grid will require shifting to more renewable energy sources.
Data for Progress recently surveyed 1,219 likely voters to gauge public opinion on energy investments and renewable energy policies. The results show broad support for renewable energy, with 65% of respondents favoring more investments in renewable energy, and an appetite for a federal renewable energy standard, with 62% in support.
Support for investing in renewable energy is particularly strong among Democrats (83%) and voters under 45 (72%), though a majority of Independents (63%) and a plurality of Republicans (46%) also favor increasing renewable energy investments. Black (75%) and Latino (69%) voters show stronger support for investing more in renewables than voters overall.
Asked about their preferences around investment in fossil fuels, a plurality of voters (44%) favor more investment. However, besides Republicans (63%), a majority of no demographic is in favor of expanding investment in fossil fuels. Twenty-six percent of respondents believe the U.S. should maintain current levels of investment in fossil fuels, while 30% think that U.S. investment in fossil fuels should be reduced.
Voters were then asked about their attitudes toward a proposed federal renewable electricity standard that would require 20% of U.S. electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2025, annually increasing the requirement to reach 70% of generation by 2034. A majority (62%) of voters support this policy, with only 28% in opposition. Support is even higher among Democrats (83%), compared with Independents (57%) and Republicans (42%). More Black (68%) and Latino (72%) voters are in support than white voters (59%).
Despite their broad support for setting strong renewable energy targets, voters are divided on the potential impact of such a standard on electricity prices. When asked how they think transitioning to renewable energy would impact electricity prices, a plurality of voters (41%) believe it would make electricity cheaper, while 36% expect it would increase rates, and 12% believe it would have no impact. Democrats are the most optimistic group by partisanship regarding cost impacts, with 53% expecting lower costs, compared with 30% of Independents and 36% of Republicans who expect the same. Notably, a plurality of both Republicans (45%) and Independents (39%) think a renewable electricity standard would make electricity more expensive. In reality, renewables are the cheapest form of power today, as they are not reliant on volatile fuel inputs, like oil and gas.
Respondents were then asked how they would expect a renewable electricity standard to impact grid reliability. While 41% of voters believe such a law would improve grid reliability and reduce the number of blackouts and outages, 31% think it would make the grid less reliable, and 16% think there would be no impact to grid reliability at all. There are significant differences across partisanship, with 54% of Democrats, 35% of Independents, and 32% of Republicans believing the policy would improve reliability. As with expected impacts to costs, Republicans are more pessimistic than topline voters, with a plurality (44%) believing that renewables would decrease reliability.
Overall, there are clear partisanship and demographic differences in attitudes toward renewable energy generation and a renewable electricity standard. Though these results highlight broad public support for renewable energy investments and policies, they also underscore lingering concerns about costs and grid stability. These findings suggest that, while many voters are ready to embrace a renewable energy future, they remain cautious about the potential economic and reliability implications.
Eva Brungard is a climate and energy program intern at Data for Progress.
Survey Methodology
From September 18 to 20, 2024, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,219 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.