(Massachusetts) – Despite political assumptions about deep blue Democratic states aligning with the most progressive energy positions, the reality is far different. A new survey of Massachusetts’ registered voters released by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future found that:
“Massachusetts has some of the highest power prices in America, and in an already uncertain economic environment, it is no surprise that residents care first and foremost about affordable and reliable energy,” said former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Natural Allies Leadership Council Co-Chair. “Coming out of the 2024 election, Democrats need to find their way back to common sense policies that put affordability and kitchen table issues first. It’s where independent and working-class voters are. Advancing balanced energy policies, that include both renewables and natural gas, is a political winner and key to tackling our energy affordability and climate challenges together.”
Natural Allies tested six policy proposals to address Massachusetts’ and New England’s shared reliability and affordability challenges now and in the years ahead. The most popular solution, building more renewables balanced with more natural gas, was supported by 68% of voters (including 84% of those who approve of Governor Healey). Notably, the least popular proposal, was the region’s de facto energy approach: stopping natural gas pipelines, burning higher emitting fuel oil for electricity, and purchasing foreign natural gas (as the region did from Russia in 2018). This approach was even less popular (20%) than burning more coal (33%).
A recent report by the Progressive Policy Institute found that an energy transition without natural gas would increase energy cost burdens among populations that could least afford it. The report used Boston as a case study and found the highest energy cost burdens fell almost exactly on neighborhoods with the highest Black populations. A clear majority of Massachusetts voters (63%) agreed elected officials needed to focus on reducing cost burdens on low-income communities, rather than advancing zero-carbon policies that mean higher costs for those who could least afford it (12%).
“This survey proves that even among the bluest states in America, natural gas is popular with voters and is necessary for affordability and reliability. Like Governor Lamont in Connecticut, Governor Healey can pivot to a balanced policy that ramps up renewables like offshore wind to reduce carbon emissions, while increasingly relying on natural gas as a foundation to lower gas and electric bills,” added former Congressman and Leadership Council Co-Chair Tim Ryan (D-OH). “Democratic leaders like Gov. Josh Shapiro in Pennsylvania have expressed their goal of moving more natural gas into New England to lower costs for ratepayers.”
The Washington Post in March quoted Healey Administration officials as saying the Governor was open to policies that included more natural gas infrastructure.
The poll was commissioned by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future and conducted by MAD Global Strategy, a bipartisan public strategy firm. The data is based on a text-to-web survey of 500 registered voters residing in the state of Massachusetts, from May 14-18, as part of a larger 8-state regional survey (n=4,000) in the Northeastern United States on energy related issues. This state-based data follows the release of New Jersey, Connecticut and New York results.
For additional survey questions and results, click here for the full memorandum.