When Republican lawmakers believe that the fate of the U.S. Senate falls in the hands of the U.S. Senate because Republican lawmakers believe that partly or completely abolish the Biden-era clean energy incentives.
The version of the House narrowly passed budget bill in mid-May will revoke the clean energy tax credit for individuals and businesses enacted as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which aims to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in modernizing U.S. energy and combat climate change.
The proposed abolition threatens new battery technology and emerging advances in electric vehicles and will slow down the adoption of lower energy forms. Ending these plans will also increase U.S. emissions from climate pollution and increase energy costs for households and businesses, according to energy analysts.
Read: A big, beautiful, climate-killing bill
Most people in most states say that clean energy should be a high or very high priority
Abolition is not what most Americans want.
In fact, according to the publisher of this website, Yale University’s Climate Change Communication Program, said about 63% of Americans said in a December 2024 poll that the president and Congress should be a high or very high priority.
Clean energy is widely popular across the country and is supported by most voters, including most voters in most red states.
The following chart shows the estimated percentage for each state, and they say developing clean energy should be a high priority for the president and Congress. The map is interactive; hover or click on the status to view details.
Except for two states, most adults believe that developing clean energy should be a top priority for the president and Congress.
Even in West Virginia, coal has had a significant impact on the state economy, and 70% of the votes voted for Donald Trump in 2024, most (51%) say clean energy is a priority.
Wyoming and North Dakota are the only states that do not have population priority to clean energy development. Both states produce fossil fuels, but this fuel alone does not fully explain public sentiment. Other countries that produce fossil fuels, such as West Virginia, Kentucky, Montana, Alaska, Texas and Oklahoma, have shown majority support for clean energy development.
Overall, the region with the largest support for clean energy development is 78% support from the District of Columbia, followed by Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii and Vermont, where about 70% of adults say clean energy should be a priority.
Among the states that voted for Donald Trump in 2024, the countries with the most positive views of clean energy are Florida, Nevada, North Carolina and Arizona.
North Carolina is a particularly important case.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis, one of four Republican senators, wrote to Senate Majority Leader John Thune in April warning of the complete abolition of the energy tax credit, “this could lead to serious damage to the American people and undermine our position as global energy leaders.”
Currently, incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act are driving major economic development toward red countries and investing in modern manufacturing, grid upgrades, climateization, energy research and clean energy deployment.
Under the Inflation Reduction Act, North Carolina plans to acquire nearly $22 billion in investment through energy and private companies. If the proposed project is not cancelled, North Carolina will receive the fifth largest energy investment in 50 states, with multiple projects in the battery and electric vehicle manufacturing industries worth more than $1 billion. Senator Tillis will be re-election in 2026, and his vote is one the Clean Energy Hawks are watching closely.
Another Republican senator who wrote support for the clean energy project is Lisa Mukowski of Alaska, John Curtis of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas. Senator Curtis expressed support for clean energy tax credits and investments during a recent trip to a newly expanded battery production facility in Utah.
Republicans have a majority of 53 seats in the Senate, and some of the country's most important energy projects are in this volatile balance.
Data Source
Public opinion data comes from the Yale climate opinion chart measured in 2024. The latest data can be downloaded from the website.
Read the latest public opinion on climate policy in US thought in climate change, published on January 30, 2025. Princeton University’s Zero Laboratory published a detailed analysis of the impact of abolition of inflation reduction laws.
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