Environmental Polling Roundup – May 29, 2026
Headlines
Center for American Progress (CAP) – Voters continue to blame corporate greed for high energy prices, and support a range of policy solutions to bring utility costs down–including stronger regulations on data centers and a ban on utility junk fees [Website, Memo]
PowerLines + Ipsos – Americans feel “powerless” over their utility bills and want government officials to provide stronger oversight of utility companies [Website]
Navigator – Voters have mixed attitudes about the MAHA movement but share many MAHA-related concerns, including about the impacts of corporations and lobbyists on the environment [Topline]
Key Takeaways
Americans continue to view high energy costs primarily as a consequence of corporate greed, and also blame government officials at multiple levels for failing to address the issue. The Center for American Progress finds that voters rank “utilities raising costs while raking in record profits” as the most responsible factor behind rising utility costs, followed by “the greed and corruption of the oil and gas industry.” Meanwhile, voters rate factors related to the supply of energy and the aging grid as relatively less responsible for the problem.
This does not mean that politicians are avoiding blame, however. Another recent poll by PowerLines and Ipsos finds that Americans are just as likely to say that their utility bills have made them feel more negatively toward the President as to say that their utility bills have made them feel more negatively about their utility company. And the percentage of Americans who say that their state is doing a good job of regulating their local electricity or gas utilities, which was already low to begin with, has declined in the past year (from 38% to 29%).
The public is open to a data center moratorium, but prefers enacting regulations that shield consumers from rate hikes. The Center for American Progress finds that requiring AI companies to pay for the full costs of their power needs for their data centers is more popular than any other policy tested for addressing high utility costs, with 70% of voters in favor of it. A proposal to put a mandatory pause on new AI data centers also earns majority support, though to a lesser degree (58%).
These results mirror what we’ve seen in other polling, with voters willing to back data center bans but preferring stronger data center regulations over a moratorium. A recent Stockton University poll of New Jersey voters, for example, found that most would support a local ordinance to ban data centers in their town. When presented with more options, however, New Jerseyans were more likely to say that their state should encourage data center development with strict regulations on energy usage and environmental impacts than to say that it should discourage data center development altogether.
Good Data Points to Highlight
[Corporate Accountability] 76% of voters are concerned about the power of corporations and lobbyists over our food safety [Navigator]
[Corporate Accountability] 72% of voters are concerned about the impact of corporations and lobbyists on the environment [Navigator]
[PFAS] 76% of voters support banning PFAS / “forever chemicals” from drinking water, including 51% who strongly support this proposal [Navigator]
[Toxics + Pesticides] 76% of voters are concerned about environmental toxins and pesticides [Navigator]
[Data Centers] 70% of voters support requiring AI companies to pay for the full costs of their power needs for their data centers [Center for American Progress]
Full Roundup
Center for American Progress (CAP) – Voters continue to blame corporate greed for high energy prices, and support a range of policy solutions to bring utility costs down–including stronger regulations on data centers and a ban on utility junk fees [Website, Memo]
Voters continue to blame high energy prices more on corporate greed than other factors. In an exercise where respondents ranked a list of 13 factors from most to least responsible for rising utility costs, voters chose “utilities raising costs while raking in record profits” and “the greed and corruption of the oil and gas industry” as the two biggest drivers of high utility costs.
Below is the list in full, ranked in order by voters’ assigned blame:
- Utilities raising costs while raking in record profits (Most responsible)
- The greed and corruption of the oil and gas industry
- Aging infrastructure and an outdated electric grid
- Increased demand on the electrical grid from AI data centers
- Increased demand on the electrical grid from population growth
- Tariffs increasing prices on utility equipment
- Changes in environmental regulations impacting power plant operation
- Reduced supply of energy from renewable projects being cancelled
- Increased demand on the electrical grid from electric vehicles
- Global supply chain issues
- Government investments in solar and wind projects
- Climate change and extreme weather
- Volatile natural gas prices
Opposition arguments that clean energy and environmental regulations are to blame for high utility costs continue to fall flat. Even among Trump voters, “government investments in solar and wind projects” (8th out of the 13 factors) ranked toward the bottom half of the list of perceived factors behind rising utility costs. “Changes in environmental regulations impacting power plant regulation” (6th out of 13 factors) and “increased demand on the electrical grid from electric vehicles” (7th out of 13 factors) also ranked as only mid-tier factors for Trump voters.
At the same time, voters don’t rate “reduced supply of energy from renewable projects being cancelled” (8th out of 13 factors) as a primary factor behind rising costs as they continue to link the problem more to corporate greed than to supply constraints.
Voters support a wide range of solutions to address the utility cost crisis. CAP’s research indicates that voters aren’t particularly choosy when it comes to ways to lower their bills: majorities are willing to support more than a dozen policies tested in the poll when presented with the policy idea and a short, positive explanation of it.
That said, policies that hold corporate actors more accountable are especially popular. A proposal to require AI companies to pay the full costs of their power needs ranked as the very most popular policy tested by CAP.
Below is the list of policies tested in full, ranked by the percentage of voters who support each one:
- [Mandatory Fair Share] Require AI companies to pay for the full costs of their power needs for their data centers. Under this policy, data centers that are built would not raise electricity prices for Americans – 70% support
- [Utility Junk Fees] Ban utility companies from adding lobbying, public communications, and trade association fees to the rates consumers pay. Under this policy, Americans would have more protections and pay lower utility bills – 62% support
- [Fuel Surcharges] Prevent utilities from adding fuel surcharges to the rates consumers pay when natural gas prices rise. Under this policy, Americans would have more protections and avoid expensive rate spikes – 61% support
- [LNG Restrictions] Reduce the amount of natural gas that is exported from North America. This proposal would increase domestic availability of natural gas, which helps keep electricity costs low for families. – 60% support
- [Grid Investments] Offer new tax credits for investment in grid infrastructure to lower costs and improve resilience. By providing public support, families alone will not need to shoulder the full cost of necessary grid improvements – 59%
- [Grid Enhancing Technologies] Require utilities to use the most cost -effective new technologies when building grid infrastructure, which saves money by avoiding unnecessarily expensive approaches. Under this policy, Americans would pay lower household energy bills and experience less power outages. – 59%
- [Data Center Moratorium] Put a mandatory pause on building new AI data centers. Under this policy, no new AI data centers would be built until their impacts on electricity prices, the environment, jobs, and society can be addressed. – 58%
- [Rate Freeze] Some Democrats in Congress are proposing a program that would provide public funding to improve our electric grid for states that freeze or lower electricity rates for families. This policy would block utility companies from an expected $125 billion increase in electricity bills over four years, while still delivering investments that will build a system that costs less for the future. – 57%
- [Voluntary Fair Share] AI companies voluntarily build power stations to supply all of their power needs for their data centers. Under this policy, AI companies that comply would build data centers without raising electricity prices for Americans. – 56%
- [Clean Energy Investments] Restore the clean energy investment tax incentives that President Trump repealed. Under this policy, we would invest in all types of clean energy, like wind, solar, batteries, nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower. This would lower the cost of building new sources of power, which helps lower electricity bills over time. – 56%
- [Clean Firm Investments] Some Democrats in Congress are proposing a bipartisan plan to support emerging technologies, like batteries and advanced nuclear power, that can provide power around the clock without any air pollution. Driving down the costs of innovative new technologies would lower the cost of power, which would be passed along to consumers. – 54%
- [Natural Gas Investments] Provide public funding to keep retiring coal and natural gas power plants in operation, speed up the manufacturing of turbines for new natural gas power plants, and build more natural gas pipelines. Under this policy, we would increase the energy supply to keep utility costs lower for Americans. – 53%
- [Permitting Reform] Some Democrats in Congress are proposing reforms to speed up permit reviews for new power and transmission projects, and allowing interstate power lines to get permits from the federal government instead of the states, so that infrastructure can be built with fewer delays, thereby lowering costs. – 52%
- [Energy and Home Weatherization Assistance] Expand programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program. Under this policy, households would receive help to cover household energy costs and reduce utility bills through energy efficiency upgrades. – 52%
Voters don’t back away from the idea of halting new data centers, but prefer strong data center regulations over an outright moratorium. While most voters (58%) support a data center moratorium (described as putting “a mandatory pause on building new AI data centers”), voters are 12 points more likely (70%) to support the following proposal that allows new AI data centers but with strong regulations to protect consumers: “Require AI companies to pay for the full costs of their power needs for their data centers. Under this policy, data centers that are built would not raise electricity prices for Americans.”
PowerLines + Ipsos – Americans feel “powerless” over their utility bills and want government officials to provide stronger oversight of utility companies [Website]
Americans say that they’re generally familiar with their utilities and how rates are set, but less aware of how their utility is regulated. Around seven in ten (72%) say that they are at least “somewhat” familiar with their local electricity and/or gas utilities, and close to two-thirds (65%) say that they’re at least “somewhat” familiar with how their electricity and gas bills are determined.
However, only 42% are familiar with the regulatory agency that oversees their local utilities.
Americans have mixed feelings about their own utilities, with more complaints about affordability than about service or transparency. In questions that were asked of utility ratepayers (93% of the sample), ratepayers are divided on whether their bills are justified by the quality and reliability of their utility services and few believe that their utility company is offering the most affordable rates they can.
Below are the percentages of ratepayers who agree and disagree with various statements about their utility service and bills:
- My utility bill gives me the information I need to understand my electricity usage – 64% agree / 25% disagree
- The quality and reliability of my utility services justify the bills I pay – 44% agree / 44% disagree
- My utility company gives me choices and options, including a plan to help me save on my bill – 41% agree / 39% disagree
- My utility company offers me the most affordable rates they can – 27% agree / 52% disagree
- My utility company puts my interests as a consumer over their own interests – 16% agree / 66% disagree
Frustration over utility costs isn’t just directed at the utility companies, but also to lawmakers. Around two in five Americans (38%) say that their utility bills have negatively impacted their opinion of their utility company over the past year, while an equal number (38%) say that their utility bills have negatively impacted their views of the U.S. President (38%).
Additionally, nearly as many Americans say that their utility bills have negatively impacted their opinions of state elected officials such as their governor and state representative (34%) and national elected officials such as their member of Congress and U.S. Senators (33%).
Americans say that they feel “powerless” over their utility bills and want government officials to take action on the problem. In a battery of macro-level statements about the issue of utility costs, Americans show the most widespread agreement on the following three points:
- I feel like I am powerless to control how much I’m charged for electricity or gas services – 80% agree
- I want my government officials to lower my utility bills – 77%
- I want my government officials to provide stronger oversight of utility companies – 76%
Most Americans also say that utility bills are adding to their financial stress, while few agree that their state government is doing a good job of regulating local utilities:
- I want my government officials to freeze my electric rates – 63% agree
- Electrical and gas bills add to my financial stress – 61%
- My electricity and gas utility bills are easy to understand – 56%
- Changes to my utility bills have impacted my spending habits – 52%
- Changes to my utility bills have made it more difficult for me to spend on non-essentials (e.g., entertainment and luxuries) – 52%
- Changes to my utility bills have made it more difficult to afford basic necessities – 46%
- I fully understand what drives the costs I’m charged by the local electric or gas utilities – 38%
- My state government does a good job protecting my interests when it comes to regulating our local electricity or gas utilities – 29%
Compared to polling by PowerLines and Ipsos last year, the percentage of Americans who say that their state government does a good job of regulating local electricity or gas utilities has dropped by nine points (from 38% to 29%).
Navigator – Voters have mixed attitudes about the MAHA movement but share many MAHA-related concerns, including about the impacts of corporations and lobbyists on the environment [Topline]
Voters have mixed feelings about the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement. Voters are split evenly in their feelings about MAHA (40% favorable / 40% unfavorable). While Republicans have overwhelmingly positive opinions of it (70% favorable / 15% unfavorable), independents feel more unfavorably than favorably about it (27% favorable / 38% unfavorable) and Democrats have deeply negative attitudes toward it (16% favorable / 66% unfavorable).
Voters associate MAHA most with concerns over food additives and vaccines. Below are the percentages who say that various descriptions apply to the MAHA movement “very” or “somewhat” well:
- Concerned about ultra-processed foods and artificial ingredients in our food – 58% say that this describes MAHA well
- Skeptical of vaccines – 55%
- Prefers natural health approaches over prescription medications – 52%
- Skeptical of healthcare companies like insurance and pharmaceutical companies – 51%
- Believes that family medical decisions should be guided by personal choices, not pressure from experts or institutions – 49%
- Concerned about environmental toxins and pesticides – 48%
- Concerned about the power of corporations and lobbyists over our food safety – 47%
- Skeptical of hospitals and doctors – 46%
- Concerned about the chronic disease epidemic – 45%
- Concerned about how birth control might affect women’s hormones and fertility – 41%
- Concerned about the impact of corporations and lobbyists on the environment – 38%
As this list shows, most voters do not strongly associate MAHA with standing up to corporate power or lobbying.
Majorities of voters are concerned about environmental toxins and pesticides and about the influence of corporate lobbying on food safety and the environment. Evaluating a series of statements about health, wellness, and food safety, voters reach broad agreement about the dangers of corporate lobbying on food safety and the environment. Support for “natural” health approaches and skepticism over vaccines, meanwhile, is much more limited.
- I believe that family medical decisions should be guided by personal choice, not pressure from experts or institutions – 79% agree
- I am concerned about the power of corporations and lobbyists over our food safety – 76%
- I am concerned about environmental toxins and pesticides – 76%
- I am concerned about ultra-processed foods and artificial ingredients in our food – 75%
- I am concerned about the impact of corporations and lobbyists on the environment – 72%
- I am skeptical of healthcare companies like insurance and pharmaceutical companies – 70%
- I am concerned about the chronic disease epidemic – 68%
- I prefer natural health approaches over prescription medications – 54%
- I am concerned about how birth control might affect women’s hormones and fertility – 49%
- I am skeptical of vaccines – 43%
- I am skeptical of hospitals and doctors – 38%
Eliminating PFAS from drinking water is the most popular MAHA-related policy proposal, even as the Trump administration rolls back clean water rules. As the administration awkwardly tries to reconcile its repeal of PFAS regulations with RFK Jr.’s “MAHA” agenda, Navigator finds that a ban on PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” earns stronger support than any other policy proposal related to the MAHA movement:
- Banning “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS, from drinking water – 76% support, including 51% who “strongly” support this proposal
- Decreasing pesticide and herbicide use in commercial agriculture – 75% support, 42% strongly
- Removing artificial food dyes, like red dye, from all foods – 73% support, 40% strongly
- Removing seed oils, high-fructose corn syrup, and other artificial food additives from foods – 69% support, 36% strongly
- Eliminating fluoride from public drinking water – 47% support, 24% strongly
- Making all vaccines optional, including for students attending public schools – 42% support, 22% strongly
- Cutting down on the prescribing of mental health medication – 34% support, 14% strongly
- Limiting access to Tylenol for pregnant women – 33% support, 14% strongly
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