Pennsylvania voters’ attitude toward high energy costs and the environment presents obstacles for President Biden and down-ballot Democrats this November, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The survey found that most voters across party lines prefer candidates and policies they feel could lower household energy prices rather than combat climate change, suggesting Mr. Biden’s clean energy agenda is an unpopular selling point in the fossil-fuel-rich state.
Nearly two-thirds of Pennsylvania voters said rising energy costs were among their top two energy and environment issues, and 81% said energy affordability will be very/somewhat important in choosing candidates this election.
Respondents gave a slight edge to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, 37% of whom said he would better handle energy issues compared with 34% for Mr. Biden. A significant margin, 15%, were unsure.
The poll was conducted by the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies for the conservative Pennsylvania-based think tank Commonwealth Foundation.
“Concerns about rising energy costs are the top energy and environmental issue for Pennsylvania voters,” said Christian Stellakis, director of media relations at the Commonwealth Foundation. “Policies promoting energy, affordability and reliability rank the highest among Pennsylvanians over climate action policies.”
SEE ALSO: Biden aims to fire up Latinos amid fear of eroding support
Pennsylvania is the third-largest electricity producer in the nation and the second-largest net supplier of energy, according to the Energy Information Administration. It’s also the No. 2 natural gas-producing state and third in producing coal.
Mr. Biden won the state by just 1.2 points over Mr. Trump in 2020, despite the president’s longtime ties to Pennsylvania. Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is also up for reelection in Pennsylvania in a race that could determine control of the Senate. Democrats hold a one-seat majority.
Other key findings among Pennsylvania voters from the poll included:
- Roughly 80% are concerned about future availability and affordability of energy in Pennsylvania and the country.
- The majority of voters, 59%, said lowering energy costs was more important than preserving the environment, 41%.
- Most are willing to make minor lifestyle changes to help the environment like turning off lights and appliances, using reusable shopping bags, recycling more and lowering the thermostat in the winter.
- Few voters are willing to make significant lifestyle changes to help the environment; 22% would replace home appliances with energy-efficient models, 17% would reduce meat/dairy consumption, 9% would buy an electric vehicle, 8% would install solar panels and 6% would pay more for clean energy.
- Two-thirds of voters were unwilling to pay any additional money per year to combat climate change. Ten percent were willing to pay $1-$99 extra and 23% were willing to pay $100+.
- The majority, 67%, want the federal government to focus on energy affordability over 33% who said combat climate change.
- The majority, 54%, opposed Mr. Biden’s recent pause on new liquefied natural gas exports to other countries pending an environmental review compared with 24% who supported it.
The survey was conducted Feb. 28-March 6 among 800 registered Pennsylvania voters. The political party breakdown included 40% Republicans, 15% independents and 45% Democrats. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.95 percentage points.
• Ramsey Touchberry can be reached at rtouchberry@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.