Table 1 Definitions of variables, with coding used for logit regression models in Table 2

Dependent variables

 Renew—Which do you think should be a higher priority for the future of this country, increased exploration and drilling for oil or increased use of renewable energy such as wind or solar? (Response choices rotated in interviews.)

  Increased use of renewable energy such as (NH only: tidal,) wind or solar (1)

  Increased exploration and drilling for oil (0)

  don’t know/no answer (0)

 Climate—Which of the following three statements do you think is more accurate? (Response choices rotated in interviews.)

  Climate change is happening now, caused mainly by human activities (1)

  Climate change is happening now, but caused mainly by natural forces (0)

  Climate change is NOT happening now (0)

  don’t know/no answer (0)

Respondent characteristics

 Age—Respondent’s age in years, 18–96

 Sex—Male (0) or female (1)

 Education—High school or less (− 1), some college or technical school (0), college graduate (1), or postgraduate (2)

 Party—Democrat (− 1), Independent (0), Republican (1), or Tea Party supporter (2, not asked on 2011 CAFOR survey)

Timing of survey

 Election—US POLES survey only: pre-election (0) or post-election (1) 2016

 Year—NH GSP and OR CAFOR surveys only: year from 2011 to 2017

Wind power development

 Windev distinguishes between counties in the regional surveys that do (1) or do not (0) contain currently operating or proposed wind power developments. In New Hampshire, these are Coös, Grafton, and Sullivan counties; in northeast Oregon, Umatilla, and Union counties. All of the North Country counties (Coös, Grafton, Essex, and Oxford) include such developments.