Texas Clean Energy Online Survey

Texas voters, including Republicans on most issues, are supportive of clean energy policy initiatives and messaging. On the political questions, voters are divided about the direction of the state. The generic ballot for state legislature is statistically tied, but the presidential ballot test shows a toss-up race.

Key findings on the main topic of the survey, clean energy, include:

• Fully 85% of Texans say it is important that a candidate for office shares their opinion on clean energy issues.
• Texans say more emphasis should be given to solar, wind power, and natural gas. Voters are evenly divided on nuclear power and oil, while
  coal gets a big thumbs-down. For the first time, we tested geo-thermal, and it is similar to natural gas in its support among respondents.
• Republicans are a bit different, placing more emphasis on natural gas, solar power, and oil. GOP support for nuclear has grown in the last
  year, while opposition among GOPers has increased toward wind power. Geothermal does relatively well.
• Fully 82% support the state government taking action to accelerate the development and use of clean energy in Texas, including 73% of
  Republicans.
• Carbon Capture tests very well, although intensity of support is very soft.
• Support for fracking in Texas has improved a net 13 points since March 2020. Fracking receives significant backing from Republicans, and has
  popped a net 25 points to the good among Independents, while Democrats are not as negative as they were in March 2020.
• Voters overwhelmingly prefer a free market approach over government mandates and incentives, and, similarly, prefer innovation to
  regulation.
• Texans believe that the use of more clean energy in Texas will help the economy/create jobs, will improve the reliability of the electric grid,
  increase consumer choice, result in cheaper energy, and result in more energy innovation.
• A significant number of voters overall, including 61% of Independents and a plurality of GOPers, are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports taking action to increase the development and use of clean energy.
• There is strong support for investing in solar panels and more energy efficient buildings.
• Texans overwhelmingly believe that more use of clean energy in Texas will help the economy/create jobs, as well as improve the reliability of the electric grid. They also overwhelmingly believe that it will increase customer choice.
• Texans are much more divided about the impact on cost, although a slim majority believes it will result in cheaper energy rather than more expensive energy.
• There is strong support for action to accelerate the development and use of clean energy in Texas, and for an all-of-the-above energy strategy.
• We tested specific policies on clean energy. All five tested strongly.
  • There is strong support for more investment by utilities in efficiency programs;
  • Strong support for more homeowners and business owners to invest in their own renewable energy;
  • Backing to protect property owners’ ability to produce electricity on their land/lease land for renewables;
  • Giving consumers more choice by permitting third-party sales; and,
  • Minimizing red tape and regulation on renewables.
• Eight policies were tested that would prioritize Texas’ commitment to clean energy, and all eight scored extremely well.
• Messages testing reasons to accelerate the growth of clean energy all scored well with voters.
• Overall, there are a number of policies and messages advancing clean energy in Texas that resonate very well with voters, including Republicans and Independents.