US support for clean energy falls amid policy shifts, new study shows : Science : Tech Times

Clean energy has become increasingly divisive in the United States, and public sentiment has shifted markedly since President Joe Biden took office.

Support for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms has fallen despite concerns about climate change and a push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Biden administration’s policies.

Declining support for clean energy

A recent Pew Research Center survey found a decline in support for expanding solar energy, from 90 percent to 78 percent since 2020. Similarly, support for wind power has fallen more than 10 percentage points to 72 percent over the past four years.

Interest in electric vehicles has also fallen, with only 29 percent of adults considering an EV as their next car purchase, down from 38 percent the previous year. In recent years, these changes have appeared to be influenced by a growing political divide over clean-energy technologies.

The Verge reported that the biggest drop in support was among Republicans, indicating the party’s different generational views on climate change and renewable energy.

In May of this year, the Pew Research Center surveyed 8,638 U.S. adults. The survey included a diverse representation of race, ethnicity, gender, education level, political views and other demographics.

Also read: American trust in scientists plummets: report

This photo, taken October 18, 2022, shows a view of solar panels at the recently opened Al-Kharsaah Solar Power Plant in Qatar. (Photo by IVAN PISARENKO/AFP via Getty Images)

Generational Perspectives and Political Dynamics

In 2020, a majority of Republicans strongly supported increasing the number of solar and wind farms in the U.S., with 84 percent favoring solar farms and 75 percent favoring wind farms. However, this year, Republican support for solar farms has fallen to 64 percent and for wind farms to 56 percent.

The survey also found that more than 80 percent of Republicans, as opposed to 35 percent of Democrats, oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s new greenhouse gas emission standards for vehicles. The standards are intended to significantly increase the adoption of electric vehicles, with the goal of electric vehicles accounting for more than half of all car sales by 2032.

The question remains whether this influx of funds will change Republicans’ views on renewable energy. But younger Republicans, who are more optimistic about solar and wind power than older generations in the party, could change that trend.

According to the survey, only 22 percent of Republicans age 65 and older say increasing renewable energy production should be a priority. By contrast, 67 percent of Republicans ages 18 to 29 favor prioritizing renewable energy over coal, oil and gas production.

Overall, young adults see climate change as a greater threat to the U.S. over the course of their lifetimes, a finding confirmed by another Pew study released in October.

As the country navigates these turbulent waters of energy policy, the trajectory of public sentiment toward clean energy remains uncertain. While political divisions continue to shape these discussions, the evolving perspectives of younger generations offer a glimmer of hope for renewed enthusiasm for renewable technologies.

Whether through policy changes, technological innovations or changing cultural attitudes, the pursuit of a sustainable energy future promises to be the defining narrative of our times, in which the balance between environmental imperatives and political realities will undoubtedly shape the way forward.

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