New data shows bipartisan concern about energy and climate, and need for government to support carbon removals as solution.

• New independent research commissioned by carbon removals company Elimini reveals Democrats and Republicans share concerns about the impacts of climate change, potential for future blackouts and artificial intelligence-driven energy demand creating risks to energy supply  
• Despite differing opinions on current federal action on climate, both sides agree the grid should run on clean energy and feel renewable energy alone won’t be enough to reduce global temperatures enough 
• Respondents from both political affiliations feel the government should be doing more to support the development of new carbon removal technologies and industries and say it is important for the US to lead on deploying carbon removal technologies 

SAN JOSE, CA – Despite the increasingly polarized dialogue around climate and energy issues, Republican and Democrat affiliated respondents to a new survey, the Elimini Decarbonization Survey, shared common ground on a range of topics. Those included worries about the impacts of climate change, the success and challenges of the energy transition, and ways the government can support technologies to remove carbon to lead in this developing market.

Respondents from both party affiliations are also concerned about the impacts of the energy transition with 60% of Republicans and 53% of Democrats sharing concerns about potential energy blackouts in the future. 

The impact of artificial intelligence and other modern technologies on the energy grid also drew bipartisan concern with 66% of Republicans and 61% of Democrats worried they would place too much strain on the existing system.  

   

When asked about climate solutions, respondents were divided across party lines on the role of the federal government with 32% of Republicans feeling the federal government was not doing enough about climte change compared to 60% of Democrats. Democrats were more in favor of fossil fuels being entirely replaced by renewable energy (57% versus 35% of Republicans) while Republicans were more concerned that becoming fully reliant on renewable energy would result in a greater risk of power blackouts (56% versus 33% of Democrats).  

Carbon removals were favored by both sides, with 89% of Democrats and 72% of Republicans saying the government should be doing more to support their development and 90% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans agreeing it’s important that the US leads the way on deploying carbon removal technologies. 

Not only did the research discover that Republicans care more about environmental issues than they often receive credit for, but the survey shows that younger Republicans (18-34) were more likely to be supportive of climate actions than Republicans over 55. This includes promoting the use of carbon removals, converting 100% of the US grid to renewables, and being willing to pay more on utility bills to help finance the energy transition – demonstrating that there is variation and large pockets of support for decarbonizing initiatives within both political parties. 

 

The research also shed light on respondents’ awareness of carbon solutions and willingness to pay for the energy transition. While 56% of respondents had heard of carbon removals, 84% were not familiar with them. This knowledge gap offers an opportunity to educate the public on this climate solution to gain even greater support. Despite respondents’ support for the energy grid to transition to 100% clean power (76%), more than half (51%) were unwilling to see any increase in utility bills to cover those costs. Further education on the benefits of the transition on energy security and price stability could lead to greater support. 

 

The data was collected from 2,700 people via four online surveys between September 18-25 conducted by Focaldata and commissioned by Elimini, a new US-based business with an ambition to be a leader in carbon removals. The company is dedicated to permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere while generating renewable, 24/7 power.  

Interested in more insights from the Elimini Decarbonization Survey? You can read the full report or visit the executive summary.

  

Elimini media contact (US): 

Grant Stoker  

Communications Manager  
grant.stoker@drax.com  

(+1)318.376.3358 

About Elimini: 

Elimini exists to remove carbon for good.  The company has an ambition to be the world’s leading carbon removal company and to transform the carbon removals market through the deployment bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology at scale.  By working with partners across its value chain, Elimini aims to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere at megaton scale while generating 24/7 renewable, reliable power. For more information, visit www.elimini.com. 

 

 

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