Fossil fuel interest surges while backing for renewable energy declines
The Pew Research Center has recently published the results of a survey on support for renewable energy in the USA, revealing a significant change in public opinion over the past five years.
One of the most striking findings is the increased support for offshore wind, a technology that has been specifically targeted by the Trump administration. According to the survey, 69% of all respondents favour offshore wind, marking a notable shift from the past.
However, the survey also shows a drop in support for expanding wind and solar production compared to 2020. While 79% of Americans favoured this expansion in 2020, that number has dropped to 60% as of the survey conducted between April 28 and May 4, 2025.
Interestingly, the Trump administration's stance on nuclear power seems to have had an impact on public opinion. The survey found that 59% of Americans supported the expansion of new nuclear power capacities as of June 2025. Both Democrats and Republicans indicated stronger support for nuclear power, with Republicans' favorable opinions increasing from 53% in 2020 to 69% in 2025, and Democrats' support rising from 37% to 52%.
The survey results also show increased opposition to solar farms and renewed support for coal plants, as well as efforts to end federally funded clean energy projects. Moreover, 39% of Americans today support the expansion of oil, coal, and natural gas, almost double the 20% that supported it in 2020. This change in opinion is primarily driven by Republicans, whose support of oil and gas grew from 35% in 2020 to 67% today.
Brian Kennedy, Pew senior researcher and one of the study's authors, stated that this shift isn't a new trend. In the past, prominent Republicans supported renewables and sought solutions to climate change, but these stances could now be seen as disloyal to Trump.
Kenneth Gillingham, a professor at the Yale School of the Environment, expressed surprise at the shift in opinion. He believes this shift is a successful effort to link climate change and renewable energy to broader culture war issues.
The Pew Research Center's survey last week indicated decreased support for renewable energy among Republicans and Democrats compared to five years ago. This change in opinion may have significant implications for the future of energy policy in the United States.
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