The survey was conducted by Public Opinion Strategies between August 16-24, 2022 among 600 registered voters and has a credibility interval of ±4.56%.
What you need to know about MN voters & clean energy in 2022
September 30, 2022
How do Minnesota voters feel about clean energy? Learn which energy technologies voters want to see more of, which issues rank highest in importance for a candidate for political office to support, how voters feel about mining in Minnesota in relation to the clean energy supply chain and much more.
2022 Clean Energy Polling Data Webinar
How do Minnesota voters feel about clean energy? Learn which energy technologies voters want to see more of, which issues rank highest in importance for a candidate for political office to support, how voters feel about mining in Minnesota in relation to the clean energy supply chain and much more.
Whether you’re talking to legislators, potential clean energy customers, Democrats or Republicans, this polling data will help inform how you talk about Minnesota’s clean energy transition.
About the survey
Domestic Energy
- Minnesotan voters believe that we should put more emphasis on renewable energy: solar, wind, and natural gas.
- 54% of MN voters believe we should put less emphasis on coal.
- The majority of MN voters prefer a candidate with an all-of-the-above energy strategy.
- 46% of MN voters believe we should put more emphasis on renewable hydrogen. This has become a growing interest area among many in the clean energy industry.
- Currently, 57% of MN voters think we should have the same emphasis on biomass. This is more than 50% higher than those who believe we should have more (24%) or less (19%) emphasis on biomass usage.
- By nearly 3:1, 74% of voters say it is important that a candidate for political office support clean energy initiatives.
- MN voters support candidates who support clean energy development and believe that human activity is contributing to climate change.
Energy Approaches
- 80% of MN voters believe we should have an all-of-the-above energy agenda.
- 79% of voters say if they could afford it, they would have rooftop solar on their property.
- MN voters solidly agree we should accelerate clean energy within the state thus working toward goals of state energy independence and cleaner/healthier air.
- Large majority of MN voters believe it is most important to invest in efficiency programs, strengthen community solar projects, and stop local barriers.
- Streamlining installations for residential renewable energy projects is a high interest among over 80% of MN voters.
- There is high support to strengthen community solar projects in the state.
- There is a split between MN voters on satisfaction with additional options for electricity. 47% are satisfied, however 53% say they would prefer additional options.
Nuclear Energy
- Two out of three MN voters, at 66%, believe nuclear energy should be included as part of the clean energy mix.
- Support for nuclear energy is a mixed non-partisan issue among MN voters.
- There is a split (57% favor, 43% oppose) between the use of more nuclear energy as a power source in Minnesota.
- There is also a split (48% believe, 52% do not believe) on whether we need nuclear power to reduce our carbon emissions.
- Only 39% of voters believe nuclear energy is somewhat dangerous for the environment.
Other clean energy issues
- 90% of MN voters believe it is important to protect the rights of property owners to produce energy on their land.
- 88% of MN voters believe it is important to protect the rights of property owners to lease their land for renewable energy production.
- There is a small growing support for purchasing electrical vehicles among Minnesotans. (45% are likely to purchase an EV & 55% not likely to purchase an EV)
Rare metal mining
- MN voters are twice as likely to agree that mining should be done in the state rather than importing rare metals from other countries.
- Nearly 80% of MN voters are more likely to support clean energy if it became a part of the supply chain in Northeast MN.
- The northeastern region of Minnesota has the highest support for mining among voters living in that same region. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul area has the lowest support for mining in the Northeast.
View the full survey results
Press Releases
New poll shows Minnesota voters overwhelmingly support homegrown clean energy
September 14, 2022
80% of Minnesota voters support an “all of the above” energy strategy focused on lowering dependence on fossil fuels