Public Opinion on Energy

PollingReport.com Pew Research Center. Feb. 27-March 16, 2014. N=3,335 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.               “Do you favor or oppose building the Keystone XL pipeline that would transport oil from Canada’s oil sands region through the Midwest to refineries in Texas?”       Favor Oppose Unsure/ Refused         % % %       2/27 – 3/16/14 61 27 12       9/4-8/13 65 30 5       3/13-17/13 66 23 11     ABC News/Washington Post Poll. Feb. 27-March 2, 2014. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.5.               “As you may know, there is a proposal to build the Keystone XL pipeline that would carry oil from Canada to Texas. Do you think the U.S. government should or should not approve the building of this pipeline?”       Should Should not Unsure         % % %       2/27 – 3/2/14 65 22 13                   “Do you think this pipeline would or would not create a significant number of jobs?”       Would Would not Unsure         % % %       2/27 – 3/2/14 85 10 5                   “Do you think this pipeline would or would not pose a significant risk to the environment?”       Would Would not Unsure         % % %       2/27 – 3/2/14 47 44 9     Pew Research Center. Sept. 4-8, 2013. N=1,506 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 2.9.               “Do you favor or oppose increased use of fracking, a drilling method that uses high-pressure water and chemicals to extract oil and natural gas from underground rock formations?”       Favor Oppose Unsure/ Refused         % % %       9/4-8/13 44 49 7       3/13-17/13 48 38 14                   “Do you favor or oppose setting stricter emission limits on power plants in order to address climate change?”       Favor Oppose Unsure/ Refused         % % %       9/4-8/13 65 30 5       2/13-18/13 62 28 10     United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. July 11-14, 2013. N=1,002 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.6.               “The President is deciding whether to build the Keystone XL pipeline to carry oil from Canada to the United States. Supporters of the pipeline say it will ease America’s dependence on Mideast oil and create jobs. Opponents fear the environmental impact of building a pipeline. What about you? Do you support or oppose building the Keystone XL pipeline?” 2012: “One thing the President did not mention in his speech was his position on the Keystone X-L pipeline to carry oil from Canada to the United States. …”       Support Oppose Unsure/ Refused         % % %       7/11-14/13 67 24 9       1/26-29/12 64 22 14                   “As you may know, President Obama recently proposed regulations that would reduce emissions from power plants. Supporters say these regulations are necessary to reduce the risk of global climate change. Opponents say these regulations aren’t worthwhile and could increase electricity prices. Do you believe Congress should vote to stop these new regulations, or not?”       Should vote to stop Should not vote to stop Unsure/ Refused         % % %       7/11-14/13 46 42 12   Gallup Poll. March 7-10, 2013. N=1,022 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 4.
“With which one of these statements about the environment and energy production do you most agree? Protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies — such as oil, gas and coal — which the United States produces. OR, Development of U.S. energy supplies — such as oil, gas and coal — should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent.” Options rotated
		Protection of the environment	Development of energy supplies	Equally/ Both (vol.)	Neither/ Other (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	3/7-10/13	45	46	3	3	3
	3/8-11/12	44	47	3	2	4
	3/3-6/11	41	50	4	1	4
	5/24-25/10	55	39	3	1	2
	3/4-7/10	43	50	2	2	3
	3/5-8/09	47	46	3	1	3
	3/6-9/08	50	41	4	2	3
	3/11-14/07	58	34	3	2	3
	3/13-16/06	49	42	4	2	3
	3/7-10/05	52	39	4	2	3
	3/8-11/04	48	44	3	1	4
	3/3-5/03	49	40	5	2	4
	3/4-7/02	52	40	3	2	3
	3/5-7/01	52	36	6	2	4
“Which of the following approaches to solving the nation’s energy problems do you think the U.S. should follow right now: emphasize production of more oil, gas and coal supplies, or emphasize more conservation by consumers of existing energy supplies?” Options rotated. N=493 (Form A), margin of error ± 6.
		Production	Conservation	Equally/ Both (vol.)	Neither/ Other (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	3/7-10/13	36	51	6	1	6
	3/8-11/12	40	51	7	–	2
	3/3-6/11	41	48	6	1	3
	3/4-7/10	36	52	6	3	2
	3/6-9/08	29	61	5	3	2
“Which of the following approaches to solving the nation’s energy problems do you think the U.S. should follow right now: emphasize production of more oil, gas and coal supplies, or emphasize the development of alternative energy such as wind and solar power?” Options rotated. N=529 (Form B), margin of error ± 6.
		Oil, gas and coal	Alternative energy	Equally/ Both (vol.)	Neither/ Other (vol.)	Unsure
		%	%	%	%	%
	3/7-10/13	31	59	7	1	2
	3/8-11/12	34	59	5	1	1
	3/3-6/11	26	66	6	1	1
“Do you think that as a country, the United States should put more emphasis, less emphasis, or about the same emphasis as it does now on producing domestic energy from each of the following sources? . . .”
		More emphasis	Less emphasis	Same emphasis	Unsure
		%	%	%	%
	“Solar power”
	3/7-10/13	76	10	12	2
	“Wind”
	3/7-10/13	71	12	16	1
	“Natural gas”
	3/7-10/13	65	10	24	2
	“Oil”
	3/7-10/13	46	32	21	1
	“Nuclear power”
	3/7-10/13	37	32	28	3
	“Coal”
	3/7-10/13	31	41	25	3