In October 2021, Barr’s Clean Energy team commissioned Global Strategies Group to survey Connecticut voters on clean energy issues. We wanted to build upon the findings of our Massachusetts poll, conducted in September 2020, and provide insights for our partners in Connecticut about opportunities to strengthen their public education and communications efforts to advance the equitable transition to clean energy
The poll surveyed 600 registered voters across Connecticut between October 5-14, 2021, and features a number of helpful data points about current voter attitudes towards clean energy and fossil fuels.
Here are six illuminating insights from the Connecticut poll that can inform our strategies in 2022:
The vast majority of Connecticut voters surveyed (88%) think that climate change is either a problem or a crisis, and eight in ten voters surveyed think it’s getting worse.
While a significant majority of voters support a plan to transition to zero emissions by 2050 (68%) and zero carbon electricity (70%), voters are generally split on whether gas is a clean energy source, suggesting there is more work to do in public messaging and education about the role that gas plays in worsening carbon emissions.
Despite the strong support for zero emissions and zero carbon electricity, the survey suggests some voters aren’t completely convinced these plans are realistic.Still, at least half of voters called these plans either “very realistic” or “somewhat realistic”.
Solar and wind are hugely popular among Connecticut voters, who support increasing their use in the state’s energy mix by wide margins (87% and 74% respectively), while voters overwhelmingly support using less oil and coal (71% and 72%, respectively).
Across nearly every question throughout the poll, the survey found that Black and Hispanic voters expressed more support for clean energy solutions than white voters, underscoring how critical it is to engage communities of color in communications and coalition building on clean energy issues.
Voters overwhelmingly support (91%) the state government taking action to repair leaking gas pipes to prevent methane pollution, but only (40%) of voters are aware of actual policies to address methane pollution.
Connecticut voters also had a number of things in common with their neighbors in Massachusetts.
It is clear that they too are strongly supportive of bold and decisive action to address the climate crisis, including a complete transition to clean and renewable energy statewide.
And as was the case in Massachusetts, voters trust scientists and public health experts above all others to convey the facts on energy issues, underscoring the importance of partnering with these messengers in clean energy advocacy and communications.
