More than six in 10 U.S. likely voters favor law that would “dramatically increase” fossil fuel production to reduce sky-high energy prices
Barely half of swing state voters believe climate change is a “dangerous” threat
Narrow majority of Democrats (52%) believe humans are the prime driver of climate change despite every prominent party official and federal agency insisting that is “scientific fact”
Nearly half (44%) of all swing state voters say they are unwilling to pay even a cent in extra taxes each month to “combat climate change,” and only 21% would fork over more than $50 a month
Under the Biden administration, U.S. energy prices have soared across the board. From gasoline to residential and industrial electricity rates, Americans are paying more than ever to keep the lights on and their cars fueled.
Make no mistake, the ongoing surge in energy prices is mostly due to the Biden administration’s war on domestic energy production coupled with its insistence on transitioning to so-called green energy.
Clearly, this forced transition to renewable energy is failing. Not only has it resulted in unaffordable energy prices, it has also made the grid less reliable because wind and solar are intermittent forms of energy. As of now, they simply cannot provide the baseload power necessary to power America’s economic engine.
The Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports recently conducted a new poll to gauge the attitudes of U.S. voters on the issue of domestic energy production as well as their thoughts on climate change.
When it comes to the subject of increasing oil and natural gas drilling, which would likely reduce the price of most forms of energy, 63% of likely voters across the swing states support this position. On the other hand, only 30% were opposed to this idea.
The survey also asked respondents whether they believe the earth is experiencing a “dangerous level of climate change.” The results show that barely half (51%) of likely voters in key battleground states think climate change is a “dangerous” threat. There was a stark contrast between Democrats and Republicans on this issue, with 75% of Democrats identifying purported climate change as “dangerous” compared to 51% of Republicans who do not consider climate change to be a threat.
Democrats are also far more likely to believe that climate change is primarily caused by humans. Fifty-two percent (52%) of Democrats believe that climate change is driven primarily by “humans,” compared to only 10% of Democrats who attribute climate change to natural causes, and 39% of Democrats blaming both human activity and natural causes for climate change. As for Republicans, 43% believe humans to be primarily responsible for climate change, compared to 20% who attribute climate change to natural causes and 37% who believe climate change is caused by a combination of both natural causes and human activity.
Lastly, the survey asked respondents how willing they are to pay an extra amount in taxes each month to combat climate change. Nearly half (44%) stated they would not pay any amount. Only 21% would pay an extra $50, 14% would pay an extra $100, 4% would pay $500, and 4% say they would pay more than $500.
The following statements from climate experts at The Heartland Institute – a free-market think tank – may be used for attribution. For more comments, refer to the contact information below. To book a Heartland guest on your program, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at [email protected] and 312/377-4000 or (cell) 312/731-9364.
“This Rasmussen survey confirms what other surveys have also found. Nationally, more people support expanding oil and gas production in the country than believe that the Earth is suffering from dangerous climate change, and few people are willing to pay very much to fight climate change. Fewer than half of those surveyed who believe climate change is dangerous, believe that humans are primarily responsible for it. And, nearly half of those surveyed said they would be unwilling to pay even a single penny in taxes to fight climate change. Despite the media saying climate change is a top issue for voters and the President calling it the only existential threat to the planet, fewer than 20 percent of those polled were willing to have the government spend $100 or more of their tax dollars each month to fight climate change. While politicians, the mainstream media, and special interest blather on about the dangers of climate change, the public seemingly sees through the hype and recognizes that the country has more important things to deal with than climate change.”
H. Sterling Burnett
Director, Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“The results of the national polling are not overly surprising. Even though slightly over half of Americans surveyed believe the earth is experiencing dangerous climate change, the majority want to see energy and fuel prices drop, even if it means dramatically increasing drilling. A full 44 percent of voters are unwilling to pay any money at all in additional taxes to battle climate change. Even 27 percent of Democrats, while a minority, are totally unwilling to pay more than they already are. This demonstrates a serious disconnect between climate-obsessed policymakers and the people. “
Linnea Lueken
Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
The Heartland Institute is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Its mission is to discover, develop, and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems. For more information, visit our website or call 312/377-4000.
H. Sterling Burnett, Ph.D., is the Director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy and the managing editor of Environment & Climate News.
Linnea Lueken is a Research Fellow with the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy.
