Survey shows overwhelming support for solar and batteries instead — even as Democratic leaders push controversial legislation to burn gas from fracking

ANNAPOLIS, MD – As Democratic leaders push for a controversial bill favoring fossil fuel combustion, a survey from noted pollster Patrick Gonzales shows more Marylanders oppose building a new gas plant than support it. Indeed, a full  61 percent of Democratic voters in Maryland oppose construction of a gas-burning power plant to address the state’s energy challenges. One in four Republican voters also oppose a gas plant.

The same survey shows 81 percent of all voters – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – support more wind and solar power development. And 68 percent of all voters support “increasing grid reliability” by building new battery storage in the state.

“This poll shows Maryland voters don’t want legislation from Annapolis mandating more gas combustion and pollution in the state,” said Mike Tidwell, Executive Director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund. “In a world of rapid climate change, voters want the cheaper, healthier energy that comes from wind, solar, and batteries. It’s that simple.”

Despite strong opposition from the state’s biggest environmental groups, and data showing a new gas plant would be more expensive than batteries and efficiency investments, top Democrats in the General Assembly continue to support the Next Generation Energy Act (SB976/HB1035). The bill would incentivize up to three gigawatts of gas plant construction in the state, using fracked gas from neighboring states, and costing at least $3 billion, or $2,000 per Maryland family of four.

See Gonzales polling data and crosstabs here. 

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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change at the local, state, and national levels to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance clean energy solutions in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.