New polling shows 80% of US voters back offshore wind development with near identical support from both Democrats and Republicans.
The result comes from a national survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies last month for US wind association AWEA.
Some 93 percent of Democrats and 86 percent of Republicans prefer offshore wind to coal, nuclear or natural gas and believe it can play an important part in the US energy mix.
Most also think the government should put more emphasis on producing energy from renewable sources, with 58 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of Democrats calling for more emphasis on wind and solar generation.
“Voters are strongly in favour of offshore wind energy, regardless of ideology or party affiliation,” said AWEA chief executive Tom Kiernan.
“Republicans and Democrats alike see offshore wind as playing a key role in the nation’s future energy portfolio, providing tremendous economic and environmental benefits and helping stabilize the cost of electricity.”
AWEA highlighted that Republican voters were sold on the economic case for offshore wind development.
Of all Republicans surveyed 76% believed the industry could support 83,000 jobs by 2030, while 71% said they though the industry could make $23bn of investment in the US across the next decade.
The study found strong support for offshore development outside of coastal states, with almost 90 percent of those surveyed in the south and Midwest backing the technology.
Respondents of all backgrounds were positive about offshore wind, with over 84% of voters from Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers age groups all favouring it.
“Consumers clearly see that offshore wind provides significant environmental benefits and will serve as a real economic game-changer in the coming years, helping the nation recover and adding family-supporting jobs where they’re needed most at the local level following the coronavirus pandemic,” Kiernan said.
The test was carried out between 16-19 March and 800 likely voters were polled.
