May 21, 2025
N.C. voters favor energy diversification, consumer protections
RALEIGH – North Carolina voters overwhelmingly prefer political candidates who support diversifying the state’s energy sources to include more renewable energy – including swing voters who help determine the balance of power in the state legislature, a recent poll found.
Voters across the state also strongly support policies to protect consumers, to foster greater energy competition, to keep electricity rates low, and to make America energy-dominant by expanding renewable energy, the 2025 North Carolina Energy Poll found.
Overall, almost three-fourths (72%) of the state’s voters favor candidates who support energy policies that encourage more energy options, the poll found. That includes 55% of Republican voters, 75% of independent voters, and 87% of Democratic voters. Among unaffiliated female voters, who often help decide close elections, 77% want more energy options.
Voter support is even higher for state policies that promote greater energy competition and consumer choice, at 74% overall – including 75% of Republicans, 77% of independents, and 69% of Democrats, the poll found.
Meanwhile, voters across the state strongly oppose legislation to let utility companies charge customers the hefty cost of new power plants before finishing them, the poll found. Senate Bill 261, which passed the Senate and awaits action in the House, would let utilities bill their customers upfront for the cost of building expensive power plants before construction is completed – even if the project fails, as has happened in South Carolina and elsewhere.
More than three-fourths of North Carolina’s voters think that’s a bad idea regardless of their political affiliation, the poll found. Among Republican voters, fully 75% oppose the move, and 63% oppose it strongly. Meanwhile, 77% of unaffiliated voters oppose it (61% strongly), as do 79% of Democrats (63% strongly).
And about two-thirds (65%) of the state’s voters think investors in profitable utility companies, not just consumers, should help pay the volatile cost of fuel for power plants – including 63% of Republicans and 66% of independents and Democrats alike, the poll found.
On the national level, only one-fourth (25%) of North Carolina’s voters agree with President Trump’s policy to expand fossil fuel production while limiting more renewable energy, the poll found. Instead, two-thirds of the state’s voters favor federal policies to expand renewable energy to help make America energy-dominant.
“When it comes to energy policy, North Carolina’s voters show characteristic common sense across the board,” said Thomas Shumaker, State Director of Conservatives for Clean Energy North Carolina. “They want greater competition, more options, and strong protections for consumers. Savvy elected officials and candidates will embrace our voters’ sensible preferences on something as essential as energy for North Carolina’s hard-working families and businesses.”
CCENC presented the poll results at a briefing luncheon at Raleigh’s Caffé Luna restaurant. Former Republican state Rep. John Szoka, CEO of the national Conservative Energy Network, discussed key findings from CEN’s recent study of offshore wind energy’s local benefits.
SPS conducted the random telephone survey of 650 likely North Carolina general election voters March 24-26 for the national nonprofit organization Conservatives for a Clean Energy Future, which shared the results with the nonprofit group CCENC and the public. The poll’s margin of error is 3.8% at the 95% confidence level.
The poll presentation is attached and may be published in whole or in part.
Contact:
Thomas Shumaker, State Director, Conservatives for Clean Energy North Carolina
(828) 493-4345