In rural America, young Conservatives support Clean Energy.
n 2020, young, climate-minded voters, many hailing from major cities and big college campuses, turned the election for President Joe Biden. Moreover, their electoral power has only grown in the past four years. In fact, millennials and Gen Z voters will be the majority of eligible voters by 2028. It’s no secret that these voters typically trend liberal and progressive.
Perhaps more interestingly, though, some young conservative voters haven’t made up their minds yet. Especially in rural areas, these voters may be the key to a candidate’s success, and they’ll certainly be instrumental in any effective action on clean energy. While unmoved by flashy climate protests that often take place in major cities, young rural conservatives still care about the environment and want realistic solutions that fit the unique needs of their communities.
Even more than that, they want their leaders to listen.
Notably, young rural conservatives are firmly in favor of moves toward clean energy development in their communities. Not only do they find this action important to promote American energy independence, but also to address climate-related challenges like greenhouse gas emissions. In simpler terms, these voters want a climate plan that’s good for the economy and the environment.
After all, clean energy is a real economic opportunity for rural areas. A more diverse energy portfolio results in lower costs, increased reliability, and more jobs for the community. More than 75% of young conservatives, for instance, support expanding clean energy access to consumers in rural areas.