Signs of Fissures? Business Influence, Local Political Orientation, and U.S. Communities’ Climate Policy

Local business entities in the United States have generally been wary of environmental regulations and policy. They express concern that environmental policy interferes with and stymies economic growth. Over the years, these entities have worked with conservatives and Republicans to scuttle or influence environmental policy. However, as the social and economic costs of the climate crisis increasingly mount, could this position and associated response be different than past research suggests? This study investigates how the involvement of local business entities in localities’ governance is related to the adoption of climate policy. Using unique primary data collected for more than 1,000 counties across the United States, we find strong evidence of businesses supporting several climate policy measures: involvement of utility companies and businesses selling to the local market are each associated positively with one or more of the policies analyzed. Nevertheless, some divergence in the stances of business entities remains. While involvement of utility companies increases the chances that localities leaning conservative (right) will have some of the policies analyzed, involvement of the Chamber of Commerce seems to be associated with the opposite outcome. The study also finds substantial evidence of conservative-oriented counties remaining resistant to climate policy.