To measure whether voters view a tradeoff between building out clean energy and fossil fuel production when informed about domestic oil production, the pool conducted a split test which randomized treatments across respondents. Half of respondents were assigned to read an argument prioritizing investments in clean energy after stating that U.S. oil production is currently at a record level; the other half of respondents were assigned to only read the argument about clean energy build-out, without mention of oil production. All respondents then also read a statement that called for more drilling to increase oil and gas production.

With both halves of the split test, 56% of respondents agree that clean energy build-out can strengthen energy independence while lowering costs for American families, while between 36% and 37% agree that green-lighting additional oil and gas drilling will strengthen energy independence and lead to energy dominance.

Significantly, the survey also finds that 68% of voters view the growth of the clean energy industry as a positive economic force, with 58% believing it will be a greater driver of job creation than the fossil fuel industry (34%). However, a plurality of voters (44%) think that the rollout of renewable energy is taking place “too slowly,” including 63% of Democrats and 47% of Independents, compared with only 20% who are concerned about the rollout expanding “too quickly.”