Third Way and Impact Research found that non-college-educated men under 50 are a key demographic holding deep misconceptions about clean energy, with 40% believing fossil fuels are as good or better for the environment. To shift these views, advocates must go beyond digital platforms and focus on trusted messengers and targeted messaging. This group’s skepticism requires tailored strategies that address misinformation and resonate culturally and emotionally.

From July 25 to 26, 2025, Data for Progress conducted a national survey of 1,209 likely U.S. voters using an online panel. This study explored sentiments bipartisan voter attitudes towards local energy development.

States like Vermont, New York, and Michigan are leading in climate action with renewable energy targets and pollution regulations. A national survey shows that 36% of voters believe Democrats are more active on energy and environmental issues, with responses varying by partisanship.

This memo overviews recent polling and provides guidance for local elected officials on how to effectively communicate about climate and clean energy to align with Americans’ economic concerns. Our core recommendation: keep messages simple, focused, and personal—centered on the direct costs people are experiencing in their daily lives.

Hart Research conducted a national survey of 1,285 registered voters from June 3-5, 2025. The survey sponsored by Climate Power assesses public reaction to the Republican budget bill's proposed elimination of clean energy investments and tested what voters want Democrats leaders in Congress to do in response.

This Data for Progress poll shows that a strong, bipartisan majority of voters—across party lines—oppose repealing the Inflation Reduction Act. Most Americans support its clean energy and health care investments, with particularly high approval for policies like domestic clean energy manufacturing, tax credits for renewables and EVs, and pollution reduction in vulnerable communities. It’s a useful snapshot of broad public backing for climate and economic provisions in the IRA.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on utility costs, Trump’s handling of energy costs and other energy and environmental issues, climate change impacts, and federal funding cuts.

Most Americans say that their energy bills are higher now than they were a year ago, and there is widespread confusion and dissatisfaction around utilities. Utility bills remain a major cost of living concern, as three in five Americans (62%) say that their electrical and/or gas bill has increased compared to a year ago. Further, around three-quarters (73%) are concerned that their electrical and/or gas bill will increase this year. Most Americans are familiar with their local utilities, but few know much about how their utility sources its energy or how it’s regulated. Around seven in ten (69%) say that they’re at least “somewhat” familiar with their local power and/or gas utilities, though only around half (47%) are at least “somewhat” familiar with how their local utilities source their energy. Just 12% say that they’re “very” familiar with the energy sources that their utility uses. Additionally, less than half of Americans (39%) are familiar with the state or local regulatory agency that oversees their local power or gas utilities.

The majority of voters say that Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration makes them feel more negatively about Trump; climate/environment remains Democrats’ top issue strength over Republicans in voter trust. Most voters have unfavorable attitudes about Musk (38% favorable / 56% unfavorable). Voters also tend to strongly dislike him, with 46% saying that they feel “very” unfavorably about him. By a 56%-21% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (56%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (21%). By a 46%-29% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (46%) than that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (29%). By a 46%-27% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (46%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (27%).

Most voters say that the U.S. is already feeling the effects of climate change, and two-thirds expect their area to be impacted. 56% of voters recognize that the U.S. has already started experiencing the effects of climate change, and only 15% believe that the U.S. won’t be impacted in the future. An additional 10% expect that the U.S. will start feeling the effects of climate change in the next 5-10 years, and an additional 12% expect that the U.S. will feel the effects 10+ years from now. Only 15% of voters believe that the U.S. will not experience the effects of climate change on any timeframe. Majorities of Democrats (72%) and independents (58%) agree that the U.S. is being impacted by climate change right now, as do a plurality of Republicans (39%). And while less than half of Republicans say that the U.S. is currently being impacted, only around one-quarter of Republicans (27%) say that the country won’t be impacted in the future. The large majority of voters expect that their own area will be impacted by climate change. Around two-thirds of voters (68%), including large majorities of Democrats (85%) and independents (73%) as well as half of Republicans (50%), believe that climate change will at least “somewhat” affect their own area.