American voters are unhappy with the federal government’s energy policy

Washington, DC, February 27, 2024 – A recent survey of American registered voters, by Ipsos on behalf of API, finds that most registered voters believe that the federal government’s energy policy is off on the wrong track and would prefer an “all-of-the-above” approach to the nation’s energy policy that includes using natural gas, oil, and renewable energy sources. Many registered voters, including Democrats, Republicans, and independents, support increasing the country's energy infrastructure and increasing domestic production of oil and natural gas, and most are opposed to regulations that would ban gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles.

Detailed Findings:

1. Two-thirds of registered voters (67%) say that the federal government’s energy policy is off on the wrong track, including 88% of Republicans, 71% of independents, and 40% of Democrats. Just one in three (32%) registered voters say it is on the right track.

2. More than four in five registered voters (87%) support the U.S. increasing its own domestic sources of oil and natural gas rather than relying on other regions in the world, including a majority of registered voters who strongly support this (52%). This includes 94% of Republicans, 87% of independents, and 85% of Democrats. Republicans are most likely to say they strongly support this (73%) compared to 53% of independents and 34% of Democrats.

3. Most registered voters support increasing development of the country's energy infrastructure (88%), including 46% who strongly support this. Four in five registered voters support permitting reform to streamline and speed up the federal government’s process for approving energy infrastructure projects in the U.S. (83%). Democrats are most likely to support permitting reform (88%), followed by 82% of independents and 81% of Republicans.

4. Three in four registered voters (75%) oppose government regulations that would ban new gasoline, diesel, and hybrid vehicles, including 92% of Republicans, 80% of independents, and 56% of Democrats.

5. More than four in five registered voters (84%) believe that producing more oil and natural gas here in the U.S. could help lower energy costs for American consumers and businesses; this includes 93% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats, and 80% of independents. Similarly, 86% of registered voters believe producing oil and natural gas helps make the U.S. more secure against actions by countries such as China and Russia; this includes 91% of Republicans, 88% of independents, and 82% of Democrats.

6. Four in five registered voters (82%) say the U.S. should use an “all-of-the-above strategy” that includes oil and natural gas as well as renewable energy sources, compared to 16% who say the U.S. should end the use of oil and natural gas and switch exclusively to renewable energy sources. More than nine in ten Republicans (95%), four in five independents (83%), and seven in ten Democrats (70%) say the U.S. should use an “all-of-the-above energy strategy”.

About the Study

This Ipsos poll was conducted February 9-13, 2024, for the American Petroleum Institute (API) using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a representative probability sample of 1,132 adults age 18 or older in the United States who are registered to vote.

The margin of sampling error for this study is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.14. The margin of sampling error is higher and varies for results based on other sub-samples. In our reporting of the findings, percentage points are rounded off to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given table column may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. In questions that permit multiple responses, columns may total substantially more than 100%, depending on the number of different responses offered by each respondent.

The survey was conducted using KnowledgePanel, the largest and most well-established online probability-based panel that is representative of the adult US population. Our recruitment process employs a scientifically developed addressed-based sampling methodology using the latest Delivery Sequence File of the USPS – a database with full coverage of all delivery points in the US. Households invited to join the panel are randomly selected from all available households in the U.S. Persons in the sampled households are invited to join and participate in the panel. Those selected who do not already have internet access are provided a tablet and internet connection at no cost to the panel member. Those who join the panel and who are selected to participate in a survey are sent a unique password-protected log-in used to complete surveys online. As a result of our recruitment and sampling methodologies, samples from KnowledgePanel cover all households regardless of their phone or internet status and findings can be reported with a margin of sampling error and projected to the general population.

The data for the total sample were weighted to adjust for gender by age, race/ethnicity, Census region, education, household income, and 2020 presidential vote. The demographic benchmarks came from the 2023 March Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS). The official 2020 election results came from the Federal Election Commission. More details about the weighting benchmarks for this study can be found below:

• Gender (Male, Female) by Age (18-29, 30-44, 45-59, 60+)
• Race-Ethnicity (White/Non-Hispanic, Black/Non-Hispanic, Other/Non-Hispanic and 2+ Races/Non-Hispanic, Hispanic)
• Census Region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West) by Metropolitan Status (Metro, Non-Metro)
• Education (Less than High School, High School graduate or equivalent, Some College, Bachelor or higher)
• Household Income (under $25K, $25K-$49,999, $50K-$74,999, $75K-$99,999, $100K-$149,999, $150K and over)
• Vote Choice 2020 (Biden, Trump, Other/Did not vote/DK)

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Chris Jackson 
Senior Vice President, U.S. 
Public Affairs 
[email protected]

Annaleise Azevedo Lohr 
Director, U.S. 
Public Affairs
[email protected]

About Ipsos

Ipsos is one of the largest market research and polling companies globally, operating in 90 markets and employing over 18,000 people.

Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 solutions are based on primary data from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques.

Our tagline "Game Changers" sums up our ambition to help our 5,000 customers move confidently through a rapidly changing world.

Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has been listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and Mid-60 indices and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com