New National Poll: Americans Back Government Action to Support Domestic Mining and Reliable Coal Power
- 85% say increasing U.S. minerals mining is key to economic and national security
- 62% support federal funding for major domestic minerals projects
- 58% support keeping coal plants online
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New national polling commissioned by the National Mining Association (NMA) and conducted by The Harris Poll finds that Americans are increasingly united behind expanding domestic minerals production, reducing the nation’s reliance on China and preserving the coal generating capacity needed to meet increasing electricity demand.
Eighty-five percent of Americans now say increasing domestic mining is important to U.S. economic and national security given China’s restrictions on exports of key minerals to the U.S. over the past year – up from 82 percent in April. Just 7 percent say it is not important.
“Americans clearly understand that mineral security is national security – and that continuing to rely on China for the materials essential to our economy and defense is a nonstarter,” said Rich Nolan, NMA president and CEO. “Public support is not only strong; it’s growing. Americans want responsible projects to move forward and majorities even want the government to provide funding to ensure that happens. Washington has both the mandate and the urgency to deliver.”
The poll found broad support for direct federal government action to accelerate domestic mineral production:
- 62 percent favor providing funding support to major domestic minerals projects to help break America’s reliance on China for minerals needed by the nation’s manufacturing and defense supply chains; just 13 percent oppose.
- 64 percent support greater transparency in the mine permitting process to reduce delays and hold reviewing agencies accountable; just 11 percent oppose.
- 51 percent support removing regulatory burdens and overreach to help advance responsible mining projects, compared with 22 percent who oppose.
The results also demonstrate growing public concern about electricity reliability and affordability. Fifty-eight percent of Americans support the U.S. government making efforts to keep coal plants open to maintain electricity reliability and affordability until replacement capacity is built and online; only 18 percent oppose.
“Americans recognize the value of keeping reliable power plants operating as electricity demand and consumer costs climb,” Nolan said. “Taking dependable coal capacity off the grid before replacement generation is built and operating is nonsensical. The public supports a practical approach: preserve the generating capacity we need to keep the lights on and electricity affordable.”
“As we enter the midterms the message is clear,” Nolan concluded. “Americans want stronger domestic supply chains that begin in American mines, a faster and more accountable permitting process, and an electricity system that puts reliability and affordability first.”
Survey Method: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of National Mining Association from September 3-4, 2026, among 2,017 adults ages 18 and older. The April survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll from April 14 – 16, 2026 among 2,030 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For both studies, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.7 percentage points using a 95 percent confidence level.
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