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Poll Watch: America Should Prioritize Energy Development Over Protecting the Environment – 50% Vs. 41%
According the the latest Gallup Poll.Americans, by 50% to 41%, say the nation should prioritize the development of energy supplies over protecting the environment when the two goals are at odds. This reflects the continuation of a striking reversal of attitudes compared with those seen from 2001 through 2008, when Americans showed a clear preference for environmental protection.
Americans’ preference for development of U.S. energy supplies over environmental protection swelled from 34% in 2007 to 50% in March 2010 and held at that level in this year’s update of Gallup’s annual Environment survey, conducted March 3-6.
A separate update of the question in May 2010 — a month after the explosion that triggered the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico — found a significant uptick in Americans’ choosing the environment over production. However, that proved a short-lived reaction to the event.
Yet, Americans continue to favor the development of alternative energy.
And, the preference for conservation over production narrows.
Most Americans understand that dependence on fossil fuels for energy production is necessary for the short term but support the development of alternative strategies. They also understand that this development takes time.So, what do you do in the meantime?
You either cut back or you produce more.
But, this discussion has been going on since the oil supply crises of the 1970’s. Remember the gasoline lines?
Americans’ willingness to put environmental interests over U.S. energy needs has waned over the past four years — perhaps a reflection of their underlying concerns about the economy. As in 2010, more Americans today believe energy production should have priority over environmental protection. And a record-high 41% now think the U.S. should emphasize production of fossil fuels as the preferred solution to the nation’s energy problems, although a 48% plurality continues to favor conservation. The same poll showed increased public support for offshore oil drilling and oil exploration in Alaska.
The poll findings come at a time when U.S. energy policy may be at a crossroads, with gas prices once again exceeding $3.50 a gallon and Republicans putting pressure on President Barack Obama to back increased oil production and exploration. Obama’s preferred emphasis on a new generation of nuclear power plants in his “clean energy” plan may be undermined by the unfolding crisis resulting from the catastrophic earthquake in Japan. While continued higher gas prices would likely encourage consumers to conserve more gas, they could conceivably cripple an already weak economy and do serious damage to Obama’s job approval ratings.
As the administration weighs its options, one policy Obama could champion without fear of much public resistance is developing alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power. From the high level of support Americans show for that option, it appears that it simultaneously satisfies their demand for energy and addresses their concerns about energy independence, while being sensitive to environmental concerns.
But, the development of new technologies with solar and wind take time. And, America, particularly its economy is out of it.
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Poll Watch: Six in Ten Americans Favor Increasing U.S. Oil Drilling
This is not really surprising with the turmoil in the Middle East and America’s dependency on foreign oil. Why not “Drill, Baby, Drill” if it can be done in an envirnomentally sensitive way?Last year’s finding was recorded about a month after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the U.S. Gulf Coast that resulted in a massive oil spill. News of that incident has faded, possibly lessening Americans’ resistance to coastal area drilling. At the same time, recent turbulence in the Middle East has caused oil prices to rise and has sparked discussion about the stability of the United States’ foreign oil supply.
The latest findings are from Gallup’s annual Environment survey, conducted March 3-6. The same poll shows 49% of Americans in favor of opening Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration. This is up slightly from 43% in the previous measurement in 2008, and is the highest level of support Gallup has recorded for drilling in ANWR since the question was first asked in 2002.
Extracting energy for millions of Americans is not an easy undertaking. Americans like their cars and their other conveniences/toys powered by electricity. But, we understand being dependent upon countries that don’t like us so much, is not good for our national security.
In keeping with this understanding, Americans are more concerned about the availability and affordability of energy.
So, what does this mean, particularly since nuclear energy generation of electricity with the Japanese earthquake, Tsunami catastrophe will probably face intensive regulatory scrutiny?
A solid majority of Americans currently favor increased offshore oil drilling in U.S. coastal areas and a record-high 49% favor opening the Alaskan wilderness to oil exploration. These trends might best be understood in terms of Americans’ ongoing anxiety about the nation’s economic problems coupled with their expectation that today’s already elevated gas prices will continue to rise. While Americans care about environmental protection — 61% in 2010 called themselves active in or sympathetic to the environmental movement — the possible benefits of achieving greater oil independence may be gaining appeal.