CLEAN ENERGY POLICY

Clean Air PrioritiesGreen Banks

A NATIONAL SURVEY OF REGISTERED VOTERS

2021

Probability-Based Sample Provided by: Nielsen Scarborough

Field Dates: September 17 – October 1, 2020

Sample Size: Full Sample: 4,828 Registered VotersSample A: 2,415 Sample B: 2,413

Margin of Error: +/- 1.4% (Full Sample)+/- 2.0% (½ Sample A, B)

Weighted by age, income, gender, ethnicity, education, geographic location and party affiliation.

Methodology

Assessing Priorities

83

70

100

72

91

50

72

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

38

49

100

48

21

69

44

We have a responsibility to improve the conditions of thousands of people who are suffering from the negative health effects of poor air quality. Government research has shown that every dollar invested in cleaning up the air produces $30 in benefits from reduced health costs and more productivity.

There’s already legislation in place that has improved air quality and will continue to do so. Over the last 50 years, there was a 75% reduction in pollution. Meanwhile, the government keeps moving the goal posts and imposing new regulations, which hurts the economy and costs jobs.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Reducing Air PollutionARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST

P Convincing P Convincing

63

39

44

74

16

47

26

35

37

24

38

31

10

22

16

39

18

5

0

3

7

3

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

Very High LowSomewhat High

How high a priority should it be for the government to work to reduce the air pollution that has negative effects on health?

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

0

Not at All

2

1

Reducing Air Pollution PRIORITY

85

69

100

77

96

49

75

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

36

48

100

50

20

69

43

Most climate scientists agree greenhouse gases contribute to climate change and pose major threats. Without action, analysts predict these changes will cause the US economy to contract by several percent. Taking action now will benefit the economy by increasing energy efficiency. .

Some scientists question the degree of climate change and whether the risks warrant major action. We should continue to research the issue, but it’s premature to take economically costly steps to change the way we produce energy.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Reducing Greenhouse GasesARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST

P Convincing P Convincing

84

68

100

76

93

52

75

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

39

52

100

52

21

69

44

There are many good reasons for the US to invest in clean energy. Cleaner air brings down health costs and has created far more jobs than coal, oil and gas combined. The world is moving to cleaner energy and the US should be ahead of the curve, not dragging behind.

The effort to reduce CO2 will create an expanded role for government with new rules for businesses, which can slow the economy. If people want to reduce greenhouse gases, they can demand that companies from which they buy products change their ways.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Reducing Greenhouse GasesARGUMENT IN FAVOR ARGUMENT AGAINST

P Convincing P Convincing

How high a priority should it be should be for the government to work to further reduce greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide?

65

40

44

80

18

50

21

26

35

18

27

24

10

24

15

40

18

4

10

0

7

15

7

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

Very High LowSomewhat High

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Not at All

2 0

Reducing Greenhouse Gases PRIORITY

43

56

34

58

39

52

42

65

>$150k

<$30k

65+

18-34

Men

Women

White

Non-White

RACE

AGE

INCOME

Reducing Greenhouse Gases

Very / Somewhat High Priority

Support Among Republicans

GENDER

Green Banks

Most banks and investors don’t get involved in small projects that are not worth their time and don’t have the expertise to know which clean energy or energy efficiency projects are a good investment.

Green banks:

• Provide low interest loans not offered by ordinary banks

• Many green banks have been created with government funds at the state and local level and they have been self-sustaining

• Create local jobs and stimulate US domestic manufacturing

Green BanksBRIEFING

The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.

Green BanksPROPOSAL

Source of Proposal:National Climate Bank Act (116th Congress)

Sen. Edward Markey & Sen. Chris Van Hollen (S. 2057)& Rep. Debbie Dingell (H.R. 5416*)

*Resubmitted in 117th Congress: Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator Act (H.R. 806)

80

68

73

93

48

72

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

P Convincing

Investing taxpayer money in potentially risky and complex projects is not the kind of thing that governments should do. If there are viable business prospects, the private market will figure it out without having to put taxpayer’s money at risk.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Green BanksARGUMENT IN FAVOR

40

51

48

25

72

47

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

P Convincing

ARGUMENT AGAINST

Green banks are a great way to kick-start investment in clean energy. A national green bank will boost the whole green bank effort to a new level that is needed to meet the demand for clean energy. It’s a small investment that will grow over time, producing clean energy, and creating good jobs.

7758

68

9236

67

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

P FAVOR

The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Green Banks FINALRECOMMENDATION

7567

6268

65636566

7075

62656564

77

7261

7987

62

Advanced DegreeBachelor's Degree

Some CollegeHigh School or Less

>$150k$100-150k$75-100k$50-75k$30-50k

<$30k

65+55-6445-5435-4418-34

WomenMen

HispanicBlackWhiteRACE

GENDER

AGE

INCOME

EDUCATION

The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.

Green Banks FINALRECOMMENDATION

P FAVOR

11

12

13

7

12

10

70

53

63

88

35

63

81

65

76

95

47

73

Very Blue

Very Red

Independents

Democrats

Republicans

National

Tolerable(5)

Acceptable(6-10)

Assessment of Acceptability

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS

Green Banks ASSESSMENT

4347

4649

4160

4147

5548

56

4563

>$150k$100-150k$75-100k$50-75k$30-50k

<$30k

65+55-6445-5435-4418-34

WhiteNon-WhiteRACE

AGE

INCOME

The Federal government would provide $35 billion to create a national green bank that would provide funds to help local and state green banks fund more projects, help create new green banks, and invest directly in clean energy projects.

Green Banks

Tolerable + Acceptable

Support Among Republicans