New Poll: Voters Across Parties Overwhelmingly Back Big, Bold, And Equitable Investments In Clean Energy And Infrastructure

Washington, D.C. – A new national survey conducted by Data for Progress as part of a new polling partnership with Climate Power found strong public support across party lines for big, bold, and equitable investments in clean energy and infrastructure. Ahead of a major address by President Biden in Pittsburgh, the survey assessed the attitudes of likely voters toward Congress making new investments in infrastructure and clean energy, the size and scope of the Build Back Better plan, and targeted efforts to ensure these investments will be made in the communities on the front lines of the energy transition and climate change.

“People across the country and across party lines are eager to build back better with big, bold investments in infrastructure and clean energy,” said Climate Power executive director Lori Lodes. “Whether it’s prioritizing good-paying union jobs for oil and gas workers transitioning to the clean energy economy or focusing investments in communities that have borne the brunt of environmental racism and injustice for decades, the overwhelming majority of voters also support making sure we don’t leave any communities behind. Voters want our elected leaders to do whatever it takes to help our country fully recover, and they want them to go big and to go right now.”

Among the survey’s other key findings:

Over two-thirds of voters (67 percent) say the federal government should be doing more to modernize American infrastructure;
Over three-quarters of voters (77 percent) say Congress should be doing more to help America fully recover from the pandemic;
A majority of voters (73 percent) say it is time for Congress to make a long-overdue investment in American infrastructure;
A majority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans all support President Biden’s Build Back Better plan;
Over two-thirds of voters (70 percent) are more likely to support the Build Back Better plan if it includes provisions to prioritize oil and gas workers for new clean energy jobs that have fair labor standards and the opportunity to unionize;
A majority of voters (63 percent) are more likely to support the Build Back Better plan if 40% of investments go to low-income communities, communities of color, and other disadvantaged communities; and
Over two-thirds of voters (68 percent) agree ambitious investments will make our nation stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable than ever before.

A full memo on the survey’s findings can be found here.

“Voters across America are eager to continue our nation’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and make long-overdue investments in our nation’s infrastructure,” said Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Analyst at Data for Progress. “With our findings showing such clear bipartisan support for nationwide infrastructure investments, lawmakers should act swiftly to enact President Biden’s Build Back Better plan.”

From March 19 to March 21, 2021, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,270 likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, and voting history. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points.