Since the Obama Administration, the government has been heavily pushing and subsidizing the use of green energy. The inappropriately named 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is highlighted as “the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history” by the Environmental Protection Agency and included massive amounts of funding to spur the move from traditional to green energy systems.

Americans generally support efforts to reduce climate change and believe that developing alternative energy sources should be a priority. However, what most polls on green energy fail to capture are the drawbacks that Americans also perceive come with green energy sources. Americans are enthusiastic about the possibility of new energy sources but are also realistic about the imperfect nature of these technologies.

A new State Voices poll from State Policy Network highlights the drawbacks Americans see in green energy. Pluralities of voters believe that green energy is more expensive than traditional energy and that we can’t produce enough green energy to meet our needs. Furthermore, 42 percent think there are some negative environmental aspects to green energy, even if they aren’t highlighted as often as the environmental impacts of traditional energy.

About one-third of Americans are unsure on a variety of statements related to green energy suggesting there is still a substantial opportunity for education. Efforts on this front should not contrast green energy against traditional energy, which Americans also see as having drawbacks. Instead, it should focus on the issues that need to be solved so there is enough abundant, affordable energy for all Americans. It is also worth pointing out that our government is pushing to accelerate this shift without being full prepared for the consequences.

Republicans are more likely to see the drawbacks of green energy but notably about one-third of Democrats also agree that green energy is more expensive and not plentiful enough for our needs. In the current economic climate, talking about the impact of rising energy prices may be the most effective way to build support for an “all of the above” approach to expanding US energy supply.

The promise of green energy is enticing. However, the process to harness these energy sources isn’t simple and comes with real drawbacks, which fortunately, a sizable number of Americans now recognize.

Policy organizations working on energy solutions must encourage these Americans to make their opinions known and educate others on the full picture of green energy. State governments must be reminded to proceed on green energy initiatives with caution to avoid a massive shortfall in energy and subsequent economic harm.