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Just Win Strategies
TargetPoint Consulting
June 28, 2016
National Energy Innovation Survey Results
Just Win Strategies and TargetPoint Consulting recently conducted a National Energy
Innovation Survey from June 14-18, 2016, among likely General Election voters. The poll was
conducted on behalf of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, R Street Institute,
RepublicEn, Young Conservatives for Energy Reform, ConservAmerica, Niskanen Center,
Opportunity.us, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Conservation Leadership Council.
1000 interviews were collected via a live telephone survey of nationally registered voters who
are likely to vote in the General Election as well as 200 additional interviews each in the target
states of New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The margin-of-error
of the survey is +/- 3.1%. The poll focused on voter attitudes and opinions on energy policy
prioritization, policy concepts, climate change and impact of these views on candidate support.
The following memo reflects findings from the national results.
OVERALL TAKEAWAY
This research finds an electorate that is deeply divided, with a large majority (67%) who
think we as a nation are headed on the wrong track, and both of the major party
presidential nominees are upside down on their personal approval ratings: Clinton –
39% favorable, 58% unfavorable and Trump – 32% favorable, 64% unfavorable. The
national presidential ballot test shows Clinton leading with just a 5-point advantage
(45%-40%) with 16% of voters saying they will support someone else (8%), don’t plan
to vote (2%) or are unsure (6%).
Despite the clear political divisions, the data clearly shows some areas of consensus for
action on policy. Targeted policy concepts score big points across partisan, gender,
age, income, education and racial divides. Voters are both concerned about the future
of American energy policy, as well as open to considering actions to counteract global
climate change. Additionally, 2016 candidates should not dismiss this data as candidate
support is impacted by views on climate change.
KEY FINDINGS
• Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump in our national sample, as well as three of the
five battleground states surveyed.
• In a time when national security and jobs are top of the mind concerns, voters still place
an overwhelming priority on the energy debate.
• Key demographics are strongly supportive of the government taking steps to reduce
carbon emissions.
• Overwhelmingly, voters support modest policy steps, but partisan groups see different
steps as the best path forward in the energy debate.
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Voters believe they are feeling the effects of climate change, and believe that there is
evidence that the earth’s temperate is getting warmer.
Voters are open to leadership that addresses climate change and there are implications
for candidates supporting policies that make progress on climate change.
1. Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump in our national sample, as well as three of
the five battleground states surveyed. While the focus of this poll was on voter support
for clean energy policy, we also took a look at the 2016 Presidential race nationally, as well
as in the five battleground states surveyed. We found Clinton leading by 5 points
nationally, with 45% of the vote to Trump’s 40%, with 16% undecided. Clinton also leads in
New Hampshire (44%), Ohio (46%), and Pennsylvania (45%), while Trump is ahead in
North Carolina (45%) and Nevada (46%).
2. In a time when national security and jobs are top of the mind concerns, voters still
place an overwhelming priority on the energy debate. Even when reminded of the
economy, jobs, and spending, 75% of voters polled believe that energy policy should be a
priority, with 37% saying it should be a very high priority. The strongest support for action on
energy policy is among millennials ages 25-34, 87% believe this should be a high priority.
64% of Republicans, 75% of Independents, and 84% of Democrats see energy policy,
specifically the development of renewables, as a high priority. Voters view the energy
debate in terms of the economy, national security, jobs, and the environment – this
multidimensional viewpoint on energy is heavily connected to top of the mind concerns. 61%
weight all of those equally in the energy debate. At a time when 31% of voters nationally say
that national security and terrorism is their top concern followed by 42% combined who say
jobs and the economy, and federal spending, the connection between the these issues
helps elevate discussions on energy priorities.
3. Key demographics are strongly supportive of the government taking steps to reduce
carbon emissions. 68% of all likely general election voters favor, with 43% strongly, the
federal government taking steps to reduce emissions. Democrats show high support (86%),
and a strong majority (67%) of Independents favor taking steps. Republicans are split
almost equally on this issue: 48% favor, 46% oppose taking steps to reduce carbon
emissions. Among various demographic groups, 81% of Hispanic voters, 77% of African
American voters, 87% of women under 40, and 86% of millennials 25-34.
4. Overwhelmingly, voters support modest policy steps, but partisan groups see
different steps as the best path forward in the energy debate. Broad support exists for
solutions focused on innovation and efficiency. The most popular policy statement among
voters had 86% in favor of:
“Government policies should encourage energy efficiency in buildings and homes, to
stimulate job creation, generate energy savings for ratepayers, as well as benefit the
environment and public health. Further, federal, state, and local governments could
utilize energy efficiency technologies in their buildings to save taxpayer dollars.”
Energy efficiency in buildings and homes is supported across partisan lines with 80% of
Republicans, 84% of Independents, and 95% of Democrats favoring that policy measure.
While this was also the top scoring policy measure among Democrats, the top scoring policy
concept among Republican voters (81%) focused on updating and streamlining government
regulations:
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“Government regulations should be updated, streamlined, and cut to allow for increased
development of newer and cleaner energy sources like hydropower, wind, solar, natural
gas, and nuclear.”
Independents saw the most powerful statement as one focused on public and private
partnerships, 92% favored:
“The government and private sector should partner to help innovators conduct research,
support the development of clean energy technologies, and make it easier for
consumers and businesses to gain access to cutting edge energy technology”
Among nine different policy concepts tested, all received strong support at 60% or above
favoring, with 7 out of 9 scoring at 75% or more voters favoring these options. These smaller
steps in energy innovation are widely popular and provide paths forward across the
spectrum of partisan beliefs for energy solutions.
5. Voters believe they are feeling the effects of climate change, and believe that there is
evidence that the earth’s temperate is getting warmer. 52% overall think we are already
feeling the effects of climate change while 72% think we will feel them at some point in our
lifetime. While Democrats are almost unanimous on this issue with 90% believing that there
is evidence the earth’s temperature is getting warmer, a majority of Republicans (53%)
believe the effects of climate change will happen in their lifetime. Further, Republicans are
not monolithic in their views regarding the evidence of global warming – split 45% each
saying yes or no that there is evidence – there is a clear opportunity among many
Republican voters to find a path forward on solutions to this issue.
6. Voters are open to leadership that addresses climate change and there are
implications for candidates supporting policies that make progress on climate
change. With 7 in 10 voters believing that climate change is real – candidate statements on
energy policy and climate change will matter in this election and beyond. 55% of all voters
are more likely to support a candidate who believes human activity contributes to climate
change and even more critical, 65% overall are less likely to support a candidate who
believes climate change is a hoax. This includes more than a third of Republicans, more
than two thirds of Independents, and an overwhelming 84% of Democrats who are less
likely to vote for a candidate who believes climate change is a hoax. We see similar trends
where a majority of voters across all income, education, gender, and racial groups are less
likely to vote for a candidate who believes climate change is a hoax. In addition to views on
climate change, voters are looking for action on the issues.
77% of voters are more likely to support a candidate who supports a clean energy plan
that promotes diversification and growth of clean energy sources, like wind, solar, and
hydropower. We see strong support from Republicans on this (60% more likely to vote
for a candidate), and even further support from Independents (78%) and almost
universally from Democrats (92% more likely to vote for a candidate).
It is clear from these findings that the energy debate is connected to voters’ top of the mind
concerns, making it a priority for national security, jobs, our economy, and the environment.
Views on climate change and evidence of increasing temperatures on earth are progressing,
and we continue to see voters across the spectrum believe we need to take action to reduce
our carbon footprint. Overwhelming support for a range of energy policy measures act as a
foundation to elevate the energy debate. It’s essential for candidates to consider these
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modest policy concepts and the implications of their climate change views on voters
support. These findings demonstrate the possibilities and support for leadership from a
number of angles on clean energy policies that will bring further innovation into the energy
space.
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