New Poll Finds Voters Reject Outright Bans, Prefer to Maintain Options in Energy

February 8, 2023 –

There is a movement across the nation to encourage state and local governments to ban natural gas as an energy option. Michigan is a target of these efforts and some localities, like Ann Arbor, are exploring unpopular natural gas bans as a way to reach net zero carbon emissions. In addition to being unpopular, these bans are unnecessary when other options exist to achieve the same clean energy goals.

Given the importance of natural gas in our state’s energy mix and the importance of achieving Net Zero in the most equitable way possible, the Alliance for Michigan Power conducted a statewide poll of Michigan voters to better understand their opinions on maintaining the option of natural gas and how they viewed these bans.

Our recent polling shows broad support for the continued role of natural gas as we work to reach net zero:

An overwhelming majority (72%) of voters state-wide would reject any ban on natural gas.
- Among self-described Democrats 60% would vote to reject a ban on natural gas.
Natural gas is a safe and clean resource for our sustainable energy future. Voters in the poll agreed strongly with 75% believing natural gas is clean and 81% categorizing it as a safe energy source.
On issues of affordability and reliability the picture remains positive. Even given the backdrop of price issues due to the conflict in Ukraine and our inflationary environment, 69% of voters agree that natural gas remains affordable and 92% believe that natural gas is reliable.

Rival Plans to Achieve Net Zero Emissions

AMP supports policies that move Michigan to net-zero carbon emissions and believes electrification can play a critical role in achieving this objective. Michigan continues to make progress toward securing a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Reaching net-zero by 2050 is fundamental to that future, and it will take all of us working together to get there.

How we get there is critical. Removing the option of natural gas places an unfair burden on consumers, particularly low-income households, and small businesses

Eliminating natural gas from day-to-day life would require:

An overbuild in solar, wind, and battery storage and requiring 100% of energy to come from renewables. Moving to 100% renewables will mean increased costs for consumers and require investments to ensure there is reliable energy when the wind isn’t blowing, and the sun isn’t shining.
100% of all new heating equipment sales to be electric by 2035 and would ban the use of natural gas-powered cooktops, clothes dryers, water heaters, and more, in new construction and significant home renovations.

Preserving Michiganders’ option to use natural gas makes more sense- especially since we can still reach our net-zero goals and do so without jeopardizing affordability or reliability. In this scenario, we would continue to see massive new investments in renewable energy and technologies to eliminate carbon emissions -- even as Michigan consumers would continue to enjoy the option to use natural gas in their homes and businesses. This plan would gradually transition Michigan towards our new energy future without jeopardizing affordability or reliability and allow customers options to voluntarily offset emissions from natural gas, leverage energy efficiency, and pursue electrification.

Under this plan, natural gas would:

Replace coal as the largest source of 24/7 energy.
Act as a backup to power the grid when renewables are not available or if demand is too high for renewables to meet alone.
Be transported through new pipelines that would dramatically reduce emissions and allow for the transportation of cleaner versions of natural gas, including renewable natural gas and potentially green hydrogen.
Remain an option for those who want to use natural gas for home appliances like stoves, furnaces, water heaters, and other appliances.

In the head-to-head assessment Michigan voters view the Natural Gas Option as the preferred policy:

Requiring immediate electrification without a gas option would place undue cost burdens onto households and businesses across Michigan

This research confirms that the Natural Gas Option is smart energy policy. It keeps us on a path that will balance Michigan’s economic and environmental priorities while maintaining fair, reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy for everyone in our state. The Natural Gas Option gives consumers and businesses the opportunity to pursue electrification or offset emissions for their own use of natural gas and ensures that we can achieve our net-zero emissions goals together.

To view the poll in its entirety, please click here.

A Majority of Michigan Voters Support Natural Gas

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