New Poll Shows New Yorkers Are Concerned About Energy Bills, Demand Energy Choice, and Oppose by a Wide Margin Albany Efforts to Block More Affordable Natural Gas 

(New York) – In a newly released survey by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, almost six in ten New York voters (59%) oppose New York’s current posture that blocks new natural gas pipelines from Pennsylvania to support regional reliability and lower costs. Just 25% support the position. 

Recent reports have indicated Governor Kathy Hochul has worked in a bipartisan fashion to both restart New York’s offshore wind construction while reconsidering new natural gas infrastructure to support regional reliability and affordability. The survey finds this is a winning issue in New York. Natural Allies tested six different policy positions to confront New York’s energy challenges, and found this position – balancing more renewables with more natural gas – is backed by 66% of New York voters, including 74% of state Democrats – the most popular of all policies tested.  

Amidst rising energy bills across New York, the survey found that state voters are very concerned with their financial well-being, which correlated with their opinions on energy usage, policy, and resources. Affordability is paramount. 

• 78% of New York voters are concerned with their current economic situation.
• 82% feel that their electric bills are too high 

“As energy bills increase across the Northeast 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.”

An overwhelming majority of New York voters (71%) oppose banning natural gas – including 76% of independent voters. They believe consumers should be able to choose what energy source works best for them, compared to those who support moving away from natural gas toward electrification of buildings and homes (19%). 

A much discussed issue in Albany, the HEAT Act, which would permanently stop new customers from getting natural gas  alongside utility bill caps, is opposed by a 35-point margin, including  Democrats and working class voters. 

The survey found that solar power and natural gas are the two most popular forms of energy, but natural gas has the highest net rating (+49%) of those tested with the fewest negatives. Solar power is viewed positively by 64% of the state’s voters, followed closely by natural gas (63%).  Nuclear (44%) and offshore wind (49%) are popular, but less so.  Fuel oil and coal are unpopular.

“This 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 Hochul is on the right path to supporting a balanced policy that ramps up renewables like offshore wind to reduce carbon emissions, while maintaining natural gas and nuclear as foundations for baseload power,” added former Congressman and Leadership Council Co-Chair Tim Ryan (D-OH). 

The poll was commissioned by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future and conducted by MAD Global Strategy, a bipartisan public strategy firm led by Mike DuHaime. The data is based on a text-to-web survey of 500 registered voters residing in the state of New York, 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 and Connecticut results. 

For additional survey questions and results, click here for the full memorandum.