Three-quarters of Trump voters support faster action to develop clean energy in the United States, according to survey results released last week by Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies.
“Among renewables, Trump voters are especially supportive of solar power, with 61% saying they want to see more emphasis on solar when it comes to domestic energy policy,” Think Progress reports. “Fifty-six percent want to see more emphasis on hydropower, and 52% want to see more emphasis on wind — the same percentage that want to see more emphasis on natural gas.”
- Concise headlines. Original content. Timely news and views from a select group of opinion leaders. Special extras.
- Everything you need, nothing you don’t.
- The Weekender: The climate news you need.
Only 38% support more attention on coal, one of the fossil technologies President-elect Donald Trump extolled on the campaign trail, while 26% want it to receive less support.
And most of those Republican supporters aren’t just expressing casual opinions. “An overwhelming majority say that it’s very important that their candidate share their opinions on energy issues,” Think Progress notes.
“Trump’s promises to slash renewable energy spending — while favouring the expansion of dirty fuels like coal — are at odds not only with his own voters, but voters across the country,” writes correspondent Natasha Geiling. “A poll released in late September of this year found that conservative voters in Ohio — a state that Trump carried by eight points — not only favour renewable energy, but would tell their elected officials to support renewable energy policies. And a 2015 poll of voters nationwide found that 66% supported the expansion of wind, solar, and renewable energy development, and 72% strongly supported more pollution controls.”
