For example, about half of Trump voters support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes by an equal amount (48 percent), and support setting strict carbon dioxide emissions limits on existing coal-fired power plants to reduce global warming and improve public health, even if the cost of electricity to consumers and companies would likely increase (48 percent).
On clean energy, about three quarters of Trump voters support generating renewable energy (solar and wind) on public land in the U.S. (77 percent); say that, in the future, the U.S. should use more renewable energy (73 percent); support funding more research into clean energy (71 percent); and providing tax rebates to people who purchase energy efficient vehicles and solar panels (69 percent).
These findings come from a nationally-representative survey (Climate Change in the American Mind) conducted by the YPCCC and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.
“Like most Americans, majorities of Trump voters support the transition to clean energy,” said co-lead investigator
Edward Maibach, of George Mason University. “If President Trump wants to lead the nation toward energy independence and a cleaner future, his voters will support him.”
The survey of 1,226 American adults, aged 18 and older, was conducted between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1, 2016 on the GfK KnowledgePanel.
The research was funded by the 11th Hour Project, the Energy Foundation, the Grantham Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation.
In addition to Leiserowitz and Maibach, principal investigators included
Seth Rosenthal and
Matthew Cutler of Yale University and
Connie Roser-Renouf of George Mason University.
For questions about the survey, please contact
Anthony Leiserowitz, or
Edward Maibach.