August 6, 2021
Denver, Colorado (August 6, 2021) – Colorado voters support President Joe Biden’s proposed Clean Electricity Standard along with other key climate and clean energy provisions in the American Jobs Plan, according to a poll of likely Colorado voters that was released today by polling firm Data for Progress and Western Resource Advocates.
The American Jobs Plan’s Clean Electricity Standard would put the United States on a path to achieving a clean and reliable electricity system by 2035. Voters in Colorado support this proposal by a 51-point margin, including Democrats by a 96-point margin, Independents by a 53-point margin, and more than two-fifths of Republicans.
“A federal Clean Electricity Standard would help Colorado take further steps to meet the state’s ambitious goals to reduce the unhealthy greenhouse gas pollution that causes climate change,” said Maria Nájera, Western Resource Advocates’ government affairs director. “This poll shows Colorado voters want federal and state action to help reduce fossil-fuel use for electricity generation. Coloradans are already seeing the impacts of climate change, from record heat to intense wildfires and prolonged drought, and they want their lawmakers to take strong, timely action now.”
“Our polling shows that Colorado voters recognize the importance of investing in clean energy to protect the state from the impacts of climate change, and that they support bold federal action to ensure that our electricity supply is 100% clean,” said Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Analyst at Data for Progress. “With strong voter support for the federal clean electricity standard and other clean energy provisions in the American Jobs Plan, Colorado legislators should feel highly confident pushing for bold climate action as part of Congress’ infrastructure package.”
The Climate Action Plan to Reduce Pollution, a Colorado bill signed into law in 2019, sets science-based targets of reducing statewide greenhouse gas pollution 26% by 2025, 50% by 2030, and 90% by 2050 from 2005 levels. Earlier this year, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis released his Colorado Greenhouse Gas Pollution Roadmap outlining a plan to reach those targets. Colorado legislators this year passed measures to reduce greenhouse gas pollution from most electricity production 80% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, cut energy waste, and power homes and businesses with clean electricity. But further work at Colorado’s regulatory agencies and in future legislative sessions is needed to get the state on track to reach its climate goals. Federal support for clean energy and climate action will better enable Colorado to achieve its science-based climate goals.
The new poll of likely voters in both rural and urban Colorado found they also support other clean energy investments proposed in the Americans Jobs Plan:
- 73% of voters support investments to create new good-paying, union jobs to manufacture the technologies of the future, including wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles.
- 71% of voters support funding to give consumers rebates and other incentives to purchase items such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and home appliances that are more efficient and create less pollution.
- 69% of voters believe the government should make investments to create millions of new good-paying clean energy jobs across the country.
Read the full poll and methodology here.
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Data for Progress is a progressive think tank and polling firm, which arms movements with data-driven tools to fight for a more equitable future. DFP provides polling, data-based messaging, and policy generation for the progressive movement, and advises campaigns and candidates with the tools they need to win. DFP polling is regularly cited by The New York Times, The Washington Post, MSNBC, CBS News, and hundreds of other trusted news organizations. Learn more at dataforprogress.org or follow DFP on Twitter at @dataprogress.
Western Resource Advocates provides on the ground solutions to climate change. WRA works with policymakers and other advocates to advance clean energy; protect air, land, water, and wildlife; and sustain the lives and livelihoods of the West. For more information, visit: www.westernresourceadvocates.org and follow us on Twitter @wradv and #ProtectTheWest.
