Nearly six in 10 battleground state likely voters favor law that would “dramatically increase” fossil fuel production to reduce sky-high energy prices
Little more than half of swing state voters believe climate change is a “dangerous” threat
Narrow majority of Democrats (56%) believe humans are the prime driver of climate change despite every prominent party official and federal agency insisting that is “scientific fact”
Nearly half 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 18% 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 recently conducted a new poll to gauge swing state 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 29% were opposed to this idea.
The survey also inquired about climate change, specifically concerning whether or not the earth is experiencing a “dangerous level” of climate change. The results show that a little more than half (51%) of likely voters in key battleground states think climate change is a “dangerous” threat. Interestingly, there was a stark contrast between Democrats and Republicans on this issue with 80% of Democrats identifying climate change as “dangerous” whereas 60% of Republicans do not consider climate change at a “dangerous level.”
Democrats are also far more likely to believe that climate change is primarily caused by humans. In fact, 56% of Democrats believe that climate change is largely driven solely by “humans,” with little impact from “natural causes” or a combination of both. Most Republicans believe it is a combination of natural causes and human activity that is driving climate change.
Lastly, the survey asked respondents how willing they are to pay an extra amount in taxes each month to combat climate change. Nearly half (49%) said they are willing to pay zero in additional taxes to fight climate change. Only 20% would pay an extra $50, 12% would pay an extra $100, 3% 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.
“The majority of likely voters from battleground states want to see a dramatic increase in domestic oil and gas production in order to fix the energy crisis. It’s notable that even among Democrats, who are the group most concerned about climate change, 44 percent say they strongly or somewhat support increasing drilling. Likewise, the largest portion of those with graduate degrees, 55 percent of them, strongly or somewhat support increasing drilling, which is very interesting since our mainstream media frequently paint those who are worried about fuel and energy prices, or who are in support of domestic oil and gas, as know-nothings. This is despite the fact that, among that same demographic of graduate-school educated voters, 58 percent think the planet is seeing dangerous climate change. Clearly, this is a much more complex issue than the popular narrative-drivers, like the White House and media, would have us believe.”
Linnea Lueken
Research Fellow
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
“Heartland’s survey confirms what other surveys have also found. More people support expanding oil and gas production in the country than are concerned about climate change, and few people are willing to pay very much to fight climate change. Nearly half of those surveyed said they would be unwilling to pay even a single penny in taxes to fight climate change, and, 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 $100.00 or more of their tax dollars each month to fight climate change. In the end, it seems the public understands, the issue better than a lot of politicians and mainstream media talking heads. They recognize 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]
“Less than half of Americans believe humans are the primary cause of climate change and just barely half think any such climate change may be dangerous. It is a testament to the intelligence of the American people that the nation can see through the one-sided media messaging and the enormous amounts of money poured into spreading propaganda about a so-called climate crisis.”
James Taylor
President
The Heartland Institute
[email protected]
Survey of 5,605 Battleground State Likely Voters (AZ, NV, GA, PA, WI, MI)
Conducted July 5-12, 2024, By Rasmussen Reports and the Heartland Institute
- Would support or oppose a law that would reduce gasoline and energy prices by dramatically increasing oil and gas drilling in the United States?
44% Strongly support
19% Somewhat support
12% Somewhat oppose
17% Strongly oppose
8% Not sure
2. Do you believe earth is experiencing a dangerous level of climate change?
51% Yes
36% No
13% Not sure
Answered by the 2,865 respondents who believe the earth is experiencing climate change:
- What do you believe is the primary driver of climate change, natural causes, humans, or both?
8% Natural causes
52% Humans
39% Both
1% Not sure
- How much additional tax money would you be willing to spend each month to battle climate change?
48% None
20% $50
12% $100
3% $500
4% More than $500
14% Not sure
NOTE: Margin of Sampling Error, +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.
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.
Linnea Lueken is a Research Fellow with the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy.
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.
