Public Perceptions of Carbon Dioxide Removal in Wyoming, Texas, Louisiana, and Colorado

Voters across four states show strong support for investments in clean energy and carbon removal technologies, according to a new poll from the National Wildlife Federation and Data for Progress. The poll, which surveyed voters across Colorado, Louisiana, Texas, and Wyoming, found broad support for clean energy technologies, particularly solar power. The poll also found that voters hold favorable views of carbon dioxide removal technologies and were optimistic about the climate benefits, but had concerns about cost and underground carbon storage.

Other findings from the poll include:

Voters favor projects that meaningfully engage communities.
Voters are split over whether the federal government or states should have the authority to regulate underground carbon storage wells, an issue known as primacy.
Louisiana and Colorado voters agreed it is a priority to protect wild spaces while considering project siting.
Louisiana and Colorado voters support turning captured carbon dioxide into long-lived materials and are more skeptical of permanent underground CO2 storage.
Texas voters find arguments centered on energy security and jobs to be the most persuasive messages for supporting carbon removal.