Arizona voters continue to express strong concerns about air pollution and climate change, according to new polling released by the American Lung Association in Arizona. The survey found that 83% of respondents are concerned about air pollution, while 78% are worried about climate change. A significant majority—78%—believe that the state should adopt more clean energy policies to address these issues and meet rising energy demands.
“Arizona has some of the worst air quality in the country, and voters overwhelmingly agree policymakers need to act on climate change (68%),” said JoAnna Strother, Senior Director for Advocacy for the American Lung Association. “Clean energy can reduce harmful pollution, protect our health, and address climate change impacts.”
The poll is part of an annual series conducted over six years by the American Lung Association in partnership with Global Strategy Group. This year’s results indicate a preference among voters for expanding clean energy sources such as wind and solar power over building new gas plants. Respondents view clean energy as beneficial for the economy, electricity bills, and reliability.
“Arizonans want clean energy solutions to meet growing demand, yet the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) continues to approve several methane gas expansion projects. The ACC needs to be held accountable to voters and direct our utilities to invest more in wind and solar power,” Strother added.
Seventy-six percent of those surveyed support state policies that would expand clean energy use. Support spans political affiliations, with 75% favoring increased solar power and 59% supporting more wind power development. Many believe these changes will save families money (75%) and help create jobs while strengthening Arizona’s economy (74%).
Additionally, three out of five voters think utilities should stop investing in oil and gas infrastructure in favor of transitioning toward cleaner options like wind, solar, and enhanced energy efficiency measures. Policymakers who back such transitions are viewed more positively by constituents; 64% say they would look more favorably on leaders who support these policies.
“Arizona utilities need to add more power generation, and solar and wind farms are strongly supported by voters compared to new gas plants,” Strother said. “By a wide margin (75% to 25%), Arizonans prefer clean energy projects.”
The survey also found that most respondents believe new clean energy projects offer greater benefits than additional gas plants when it comes to protecting family health (82%), reducing air pollution (82%), addressing climate change impacts (80%), keeping electricity bills lower (71%), boosting economic growth (71%), creating quality jobs (71%), and improving electricity reliability (67%).
“These data couldn’t be more clear: Arizona voters overwhelmingly prefer new clean energy project to new gas power plants because they believe that new clean energy projects will not only be better for the environment but also because they are a better option to keep electricity bills lower, to strengthen the state’s economy, and to improve the reliability of Arizona’s electricity,” said Global Strategy Group Partner Andrew Baumann.
Further details from Global Strategy Group's analysis memo can be accessed online along with topline results.
