January 2018
Featured in this insight: Climate change & environment, Oil & gas, International
Poll shows Republicans divided by energy policies: In an online survey completed by 1,304 registered Ohio voters, 70 percent supported the policy to set CO2 limits on coal-fired power plants in order to reduce the effects of global warming and improve the public’s health.
However, when asked about policies regarding drilling and mining for fossil fuels, Republicans were most likely to support non-renewable energy resources.
When asked the following questions, the two parties – Democrats and Republicans – said they strongly or somewhat support the following policies:
Expand offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the US coast
- Democrats: 35%
- Republicans: 72%
Drill and mine for fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) on public land in the US
- Democrats: 26%
- Republicans: 66%
Drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- Democrats: 15%
- Republicans: 46%
Although the Republicans were more likely to support non-renewable energy practices, most of them were also happy to support climate-friendly energy policies, such as funding more research into generating renewable energy and regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
Results show that over three quarters (76%) of Republicans were more in favour of funding more research into renewable energy sources, than drilling or mining for fossil fuels.
In addition, over four fifths (81%) of Republicans said they would rather generate renewable energy sources on public land, as opposed to drilling for fossil fuels and three fifths (61%) were happy to regulate carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
View more of our sector specific insights: Climate change & environment, Oil & gas
