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RE:
Interested Parties
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 nationally among 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 state and 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%).
In key target states, significant majorities believe the country is headed on the wrong track. In
addition, the presidential nominees continue to be underwater in their personal approval
ratings. This study reports Clinton leading Trump in New Hampshire (44%-40%), Ohio (46%43%) and Pennsylvania (45%-41%), while Trump enjoys a ballot advantage in North Carolina
(45%-39%) and the candidates are essentially tied in Nevada (Clinton 45%-Trump 46%).
Despite the clear political divisions, the data clearly shows some areas of consensus for
action on policy. This data reveals that there is a political imperative on taking action in the
energy policy space. 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.
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KEY FINDINGS
• Hillary Clinton is ahead of Donald Trump in our national sample, as well as in 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.
• 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.
“Compared to other issues that Congress is currently addressing, such as the economy, jobs,
and government spending, how high of a priority do you think they should place on energy
policy, specifically the exploration and development of renewable energy sources?”
Very or somewhat
high of a priority
NH
OH
NC
NV
PA
79%
78%
72%
73%
78%
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
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demographic groups, 81% of Hispanic voters, 77% of African American voters, 87% of women
under 40, and 86% of millennials 25-34.
“Do you favor or oppose the Federal Government taking steps to reduce emissions of gases
like carbon dioxide that cause global climate change?”
Favor
Oppose
NH
73%
26%
OH
68%
24%
NC
72%
24%
NV
64%
30%
PA
74%
22%
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.”
Favor
NH
83%
OH
88%
NC
82%
NV
83%
PA
89%
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:
“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.”
Favor
NH
82%
OH
87%
NC
82%
NV
80%
PA
83%
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”
Favor
NH
85%
OH
86%
NC
81%
NV
82%
PA
85%
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.
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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.
“Already happening” to
“some point in lifetime”
“Not in my lifetime” or
“never”
NH
OH
NC
NV
PA
77%
71%
68%
70%
76%
18%
63%
56%
59%
46%
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).
“Regardless of how you feel about climate change…are you more likely or less likely to vote
for a candidate for public office who supports a clean energy plan that promotes the
diversification and growth of clean energy sources, like wind, solar and hydropower?”
More likely
NH
79%
OH
80%
NC
80%
NV
74%
PA
79%
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 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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