NEW YORK — More than four in five Americans (83 percent) are concerned about the affordability of electricity, yet many (65 percent) would be willing to pay slightly more for electricity if it meant building a more reliable electric grid, according to the WSP Pulse Report: Energy released today in conjunction with the RE+ conference.
“Stakeholder support is essential to advance energy projects that expand transmission capacity and introduce new sources of energy, and the WSP Pulse Report sheds light on what matters most to various segments of the American public,” said Mike Case, Power and Energy executive and senior vice president at WSP in the U.S. “Current and future demand is influenced by factors such as AI, increased electrification and a rise in domestic manufacturing. Efforts today will shape energy infrastructure for the next several decades, making it critical to understand how to address concerns and garner support for everything from new transmission projects to energy storage.”
The report shares notable findings such as:
- Capacity is capturing attention: Nearly four out of five Americans (78 percent) expressed concern about expanding grid capacity to meet rising power demand, with urbanites (80 percent) more likely than rural residents (73 percent) to have this concern.
- Concerned, but confident in local utilities. There is increasing frequency and severity of hurricanes, wildfires and other calamities. The survey found that four in five Americans (80 percent) say they are concerned about the safety of the grid, including vulnerability to extreme weather. Nonetheless, nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69 percent) are confident their local utility is prepared to prevent power outages during natural disasters.
- Support for new transmission projects and storage: Most Americans (71 percent) agree that the federal government should speed up permitting for essential electric grid projects even if that reduces local government control. Nearly seven in 10 Americans (69 percent) believe the U.S. government should invest more in batteries for electricity storage to make the electric grid more resilient.
- When it comes to electricity, Americans are willing to put community first: An overwhelming majority (92 percent) of Americans say their support of new transmission projects through their community would increase if it helped the U.S. meet the growing demand for power overall, even if it may not benefit them directly. That is the same proportion who say their support for new transmission projects would increase if it lowered their own electricity costs over the long term (94 percent). Most Americans (90 percent) would increase their support for new transmission projects through their community if investing now would help avoid higher costs and delays in the future.
More than three quarters of Americans (77 percent) would like to know more about how to improve the electric grid in their community. WSP also identified a notable group of “energy enthusiasts,” the 28 percent of Americans who strongly agree that they want to know more about the topic, suggesting an opportunity for greater public education and involvement.
“Poll findings will help inform WSP’s approach to supporting our clients’ energy development plans,” Case said. “Together, we can enhance reliability, improve resiliency and address increasing power needs.”
Click here to download the full WSP Pulse Report: Energy.
About the WSP Pulse Report: Energy
WSP Pulse Report: Energy is based on a survey conducted online within the U.S. by The Harris Poll on behalf of WSP from July 15-17, 2025, among 2,080 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/-2.5 percentage points using a 95 percent confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, email [email protected]
About WSP in the U.S.
WSP is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, uniting its engineering, advisory and science-based expertise to shape communities to advance humanity. From local beginnings to a globe-spanning presence today, WSP operates in more than 50 countries and employs approximately 73,000 professionals, known as Visioneers. WSP in the U.S.’s team of 19,000 professionals pioneer solutions and deliver innovative projects across the transportation, infrastructure, environment, building, energy, water, and mining and metals sectors. wsp.com
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