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U.S. Support for Renewables Falls to Lowest Point in 13 Years While Nuclear Support Rises

By Marlena Chertock | May 7, 2026
Gundremmingen_Nuclear_Power_Plant.jpg
U.S. support for solar and wind energy has fallen to the lowest point in 13 years, according to a recent Gallup poll. Meanwhile, support for nuclear energy has grown to 46%.

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U.S. support for solar and wind energy has fallen to the lowest point in 13 years, according to a recent Gallup poll. Meanwhile, support for nuclear energy has grown to 46%; however, a majority of Americans, 53%, still oppose construction of a nuclear power plant where they live.

While the majority of Americans still prefer that the country put more emphasis on solar (66%) and wind (55%) power for domestic energy production, this level of support has decreased since Gallup’s previous poll in 2021. Solar has fallen seven percentage points, and wind fell 11 points.

While opinions on other fuel sources often fall along party lines, partisan views align most on nuclear energy.

Among six sources of energy, nuclear is the only one that has experienced a rise in support since 2021—reaching the highest point to date, according to Gallup’s findings. Historically, preference for nuclear energy has been more evenly divided among responses of “more,” “less” and “the same.” Gallup found less local resistance to nuclear infrastructure than the five prior readings from 2001–2007.

Levels of support for increased reliance on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, meanwhile, remain low. Support for more emphasis on natural gas is down seven points from the 2021 poll—22% of Americans prefer less emphasis, while 37% prefer the same level, Gallup said. Support for oil continues to diverge: 34% of Americans prefer the country place more emphasis on oil, while 37% prefer less emphasis and 28% prefer no change. Coal has the least support of any energy source Gallup polled.

About The Author

Chertock is a poet and renewable energy and science journalist in the Washington, D.C., area. Contact her at [email protected].

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