Republican voters support clean energy: It’s time to find common ground

Earlier this year, Democrats passed a massive spending bill that many on the left hailed as an achievement for the climate and environment. 

On the one hand, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will funnel almost $370 billion toward renewable and climate-related energy programs — including somewhat controversial incentives for carbon capture and nuclear energy. On the other hand, it’s hard to think of a more partisan way to pursue such an important issue than the reconciliation process.

Democrats touted the popularity of individual elements of the package during the legislative process but ultimately wrapped everything together in a partisan vehicle despite the concerns of those who would otherwise support clean energy technology programs in separate legislation. This partisan approach, to be sure excluded Republican lawmakers and — as new polling commissioned by the Rainey Center Freedom Project reveals — was tone-deaf to the resounding interests of large majorities of Republican primary voters. 

A  poll conducted Sept. 8-11 by Ragnar Research Partners on behalf of the Rainey Center Freedom Project reveals that Republican voters support nearly all non-fossil fuel energy sources. 

Our poll shows a strong majority backing fossil fuel-free energy sources like nuclear (72 percent favorable), solar (67 percent favorable), hydrogen (55 percent favorable) and wind (53 percent favorable). It also shows those voters broadly in support of clean energy policy ideas like tax credits for window upgrades (73 percent support), energy-efficient appliances (67 percent support) and home applications for solar and wind (61 percent support), which includes the installation of roof panels and increased home battery storage. While some Republican voters do express the belief the government spends too much on energy subsidies overall, a majority still support alternative energy sources when they are positioned as broadening the energy portfolio and reducing overreliance on a single energy source.

There are two major takeaways here.

First, this is encouraging news for conservative climate champions on Capitol Hill like Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

From past legislation like the Energy Act of 2020 to the Conservative Climate Caucus, conservatives are working hard to advance these types of ideas in Washington.

For instance, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) recently unveiled a comprehensive, six-point climate policy framework. It aims to help our country build more clean energy infrastructure and develop more of the carbon-free solutions we need to address global climate challenges — while making the U.S. more energy secure and independent. 

In short, the plan is designed to reduce emissions, cut energy prices and slash U.S. reliance on Russia and China at the same time. And, as our polling shows, this is just the right framework to get Republican primary voters on board. It revealed that the best approach among these voters is to highlight new energy as part of a holistic plan that includes reliable sources and, crucially, mitigates the risk of not innovating.

And that brings us to the second, most important takeaway: There is a chance for new, strategic cross-partisan alliances to deliver a new, clean energy economy.

There is clearly fertile ground for Republicans and Democrats to come together on clean energy and climate solutions. Pursuing good ideas through deliberate committee consideration and regular order is the best way to ensure that whatever emerges has durable, bipartisan support. Embarking on exclusively partisan exercises may have exactly the opposite effect. Yes, our polling shows that Republican primary voters are receptive to ideas contained within the IRA but Republicans are generally hostile to this signature Democratic Party achievement overall.

Ultimately, we’re left with a serious challenge for climate and energy policymaking moving forward. If Democrats are sincere in their view that climate change is a crisis that must be addressed, then they need to make a decision: Do they want a wedge issue to campaign on, or do they want policy results to help the planet? To change the planet’s energy economy we need bipartisan buy-in on solutions moving forward. 

Our poll reveals clearly: Republican voters strongly support building a new clean energy economy.  Conservative climate champions are ready to advance smart solutions on Capitol Hill. And the moment is ripe for new clean energy and climate solutions on Capitol Hill. All it will take is some bipartisan outreach and some good old-fashioned collaborative legislating.  

Sarah Hunt is president of The Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy and director of Policy and Strategy at the Arizona State University Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service. Michael Dorsey, Ph.D. is director and chair of the Arizona State University Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service.