Energy

As the debate resurfaces over drilling in the wildlife refuge, here are some facts about Americans’ views of expanded oil and gas drilling.

Solar and wind power use has grown rapidly in the past decade, but as of 2018 those sources accounted for under 4% of all energy used in the U.S.

More Americans now oppose than favor allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters. Americans who live close to a coastline are less supportive of expanding offshore drilling than those who live farther from a coast.

Americans lean toward regulations – not economic markets alone – as the most effective way to increase reliance on renewable energy, but they are evenly split on whether fewer regulations can protect air and water.

People’s level of science knowledge helps to a degree to explain their beliefs about climate and energy issues, but it depends on their partisanship.

Public support for the Keystone XL pipeline has fallen since 2014, largely because of a sharp decline among Democrats.

Support for focusing on alternative energy development (is up slightly since December 2014, but wide political differences remain.

Supporters of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump disagree on whether to support or oppose expanding the production of a range of fossil fuel energy sources.

Almost nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) favor expanding use of solar power, while only 9% oppose it. Western homeowners are particularly likely to say they have already installed or are considering solar panels at home.

Americans are polarized over the causes and cures of climate change and how much they trust climate scientists, but most support a role for scientists in climate policy and expanding solar and wind energy.