(Source: MIRS.news, Published 08/15/2024) Sixty-eight percent of Michigan voters are fine with federal environmental mandates for light trucks and cars to be more fuel efficient, a survey from the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy finds.  

From July 10-19, a sample of 627 Michigan adults were surveyed as part of "The Swing Six Issue Surveys," which had a +/- 4.4 percent confidence level. It broke down several environmental topics unfolding at the federal level, and asked about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) mandate for new cars and light trucks to get 20–30 percent more miles per gallon by 2027.  

In August 2023, the EPA reported the average passenger vehicle emits about 400 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, and the spring EPA instructions would call for light-duty model cars and trucks manufactured for 2027 to emit 170 grams per mile.  

For groups like the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the guidance affiliated with the Biden-Harris White House would "artificially" create a "shorter pathway" toward electric vehicles, reducing consumers' choices. 

However, the survey at-hand found 57 percent of Republican participants and 82 percent of Democratic respondents from Michigan backed the fuel efficiency standards.  

On Wednesday,  MIRS spoke with Steven Kull, a senior research associate for the University of Maryland's School of Public Policy.  

He said one might imagine that due to Michigan's auto industry, residents would be less comfortable with the idea of having higher fuel efficiency standards.  

"Nonetheless, Michigan was really no different than other swing states or the country as a whole," Kull said. "And why is it? Well, they're concerned about air pollution. They're concerned about greenhouse gasses, and when asked about those issues…they said addressing those should be a priority."  

Nationally, the survey found 70 percent of respondents overall were comfortable with the EPA fuel efficiency standards. Other survey findings included:  

- Eighty percent of Michiganders, including 64 percent of Republicans and 97 percent of Democrats, believed reducing air pollution from energy production was a very or somewhat high priority for them. Nationally, the number was 85 percent.  

- Thirty percent of Michiganders are in favor of decreasing the amount of offshore drilling that takes place. Across the six swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, the number of adults who wanted offshore drilling reduced ranged from 24 percent to 30 percent.  

Kull said when respondents were informed about the constraints on offshore drilling, a very small number of respondents wanted to either reduce or increase the restrictions.  

Specifically, 76 percent of Michigan participants were in favor of maintaining or reducing the present-day level of offshore drilling. 

Discussing the fuel efficiency standards, Nicholas Occhipinti, the state government affairs director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, said to MIRS  Michiganders want the electric vehicles of today and tomorrow to be built within the state.   

"And they support policies to make sure that happens. We recognize that Michigan can utilize our existing strengths and historical manufacturing and industrial might to win the economic future," Occhipinti said.