This decline has been driven mostly by Republicans sharply shifting their views on fossil fuels and renewable energy in the last six years. In 2020, a majority of Republicans and those who lean to the Republican Party said the focus should be on renewables (65%). Now, just 28% of Republicans say this, while 71% say the priority should be on fossil fuels.
About eight-in-ten Democrats and Democratic leaners (83%) say the country should give priority to developing wind and solar production, but this share has also ticked downward in the last few years.