Energy policies shape both the nation’s environmental future and economic trajectory. The new administration’s energy agenda prioritizes fossil fuels while scaling back support for renewables, fueling a national debate. While some Americans fear these policies will accelerate climate change, others emphasize the importance of energy independence and economic stability. A survey of 1,000 Americans explores public sentiment on these policies, focusing on climate concerns, energy independence, and economic implications.
Key Takeaways
- Almost 3 in 5 Americans believe current energy policies are making climate change worse, and 62% believe they aren’t good for the country.
- 59% of Americans support a gradual transition away from fossil fuels, and only 13% want to keep them as the backbone of the energy system.
- 57% expect new energy policies will lead to higher living costs, yet 75% are willing to pay more in the short term for long-term energy independence.
- Nearly half of Americans (48%) think current energy policies make the U.S. weaker, while just 37% say they improve national strength.
How Americans Perceive the Impact of Energy Policies
- More than 3 in 5 Americans (62%) believe this administration’s energy policies aren’t good for America, with nearly 3 in 5 saying they are worsening climate change.
- Americans who think the new administration’s energy policies aren’t good by generation:
- Baby boomers: 55%
- Gen X: 56%
- Millennials: 65%
- Gen Z: 66%
- Americans who think the new administration’s energy policies aren’t good by political affiliation:
- Democrat: 83%
- Independent: 61%
- Republican: 18%
- Americans who think the new administration’s energy policies aren’t good by generation:
- About 3 in 5 Americans (59%) believe we still need fossil fuels but should transition away from them gradually, while over 1 in 4 (29%) say they should be phased out as soon as possible. Meanwhile, more than 1 in 10 (13%) think fossil fuels should remain the backbone of our energy system.
- Roughly half of Americans (48%) believe current energy policies make the U.S. more vulnerable, while just 37% say they improve national strength.
- Nearly half of Americans (45%) think this administration should provide more support for renewable energy, while 34% believe it actively opposes it. Only 21% believe current support is sufficient.
- Across all generations, Americans think solar and wind energy should be the country’s top priority, with Gen Z (39%) showing the strongest preference. Prioritizing a balanced energy mix ranks second, particularly among millennials (35%) and baby boomers (31%).
- Support for nuclear power is growing among younger generations, with Gen Z (24%) and millennials (21%) favoring it more than older groups. Oil and natural gas see the lowest support overall (11%), especially among millennials (9%).
Energy Costs and Economic Concerns
- More than half of Americans (57%) believe the energy policies will raise their cost of living.
- Millennials (60%) believe they’ll be the most impacted, followed by Gen X (56%), Gen Z (55%), and baby boomers (51%).
- 76% of Democrats think these policies will increase costs, compared to 51% of Independents and just 23% of Republicans.
- 75% of Americans would support energy policies that raise short-term costs if they promise lower costs and energy independence in the long run.
- Gen Z (78%) is the most willing to support these policies, followed by millennials (74%), Gen X (71%), and baby boomers (68%).
- Baby boomers are the most worried about energy grid reliability and blackout risks (53%), while Gen X (52%) and millennials (56%) are more concerned about the influence of big oil companies on policy. Gen Z’s top worry is America over-relying on fossil fuels (58%).
- 43% of Americans believe current energy policies will make the country more independent, 37% say they will make it less independent, and 20% think they will have no impact.
- 59% of Americans believe current energy policies will have a negative environmental impact in the long run, while 24% say they will have a positive impact. Meanwhile, 17% think they will have no real impact.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,000 Americans to analyze their perceptions of current energy policies and assess public sentiment on climate change, renewable energy, and fossil fuel dependency. The average respondent age was 41. Gender distribution included 49% women, 50% men, and 1% non-binary. Generationally, 9% were baby boomers, 22% were Gen X, 52% were millennials, and 17% were Gen Z. Political affiliation was as follows: 45% Democrat, 28% Independent, 22% Republican, and 5% unaffiliated. Any percentages not totaling 100 are due to rounding.
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