Polls / Surveys on Alternative Energy and Fossil Fuels
1. Gallup (Mar. 5-8, 2009)
"Would you prefer the government to increase, decrease, or not change the financial support and incentives it gives for producing energy from these sources?"
Increase
Not Change
Decrease
Alternative sources such as wind and solar
77%
13%
8%
Traditional sources such as oil and gas
39%
28%
30%
"Higher Priority - Protection of the Environment or Development of U.S. Energy Supplies?"
Environment
Energy Supplies
47%
46%
"Preferences for Government Incentives for Producing Energy from Alternative and Traditional Sources."
Increase traditional and
Not Change traditional and
Decrease traditional and
Increase alternative and
33%
18%
24%
Not change alternative and
3%
8%
2%
Decrease alternative and
3%
2%
3%
"Favor the Use of Nuclear Energy as One of the Ways to Provide Electricity for the U.S.?"
Strongly Favor
Somewhat Favor
Somewhat Oppose
Strongly Oppose
Unsure
27%
32%
23%
14%
4%
"Generally speaking, do you think nuclear power plants are safe or not safe?"
Safe
Unsafe
56%
42%
Subjects: 1,012 adults
Margin of Error: ± 3 %
Source: Gallup Mar. 5-8, 2009
2. Center for American Progress / Gerstein Agne (Feb. 5-13, 2009)
"America's economic future requires a transformation away from oil, gas, and coal to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar."
3. WorldPublicOpinion.org / Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland (July 15 - Nov. 4, 2008)
"Do you favor or oppose the government... Requiring utilities to use more alternative energy, such as wind and solar, even if this increases the cost of energy in the short run."
"Do you think the government should offer tax breaks for companies to develop alternative energy sources, or should it leave it to the marketplace to develop alternative energy sources, without tax breaks?"
"Which do you think should be a higher priority for the government - increasing the production of petroleum, coal and natural gas, or encouraging people to conserve energy?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Increasing production
21%
28%
19%
18%
Encouraging conservation
68%
57%
75%
69%
Both
9%
13%
4%
11%
Neither
0%
0%
0%
0%
Don't know / No answer
2%
2%
2%
2%
"Would you approve or disapprove of building more nuclear power plants to generate electricity?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Approve
45%
59%
36%
45%
Disapprove
47%
33%
56%
47%
Don't know / No answer
8%
7%
8%
8%
"Would you approve or disapprove of building more plants powered by coal to generate electricity?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Approve
41%
48%
40%
38%
Disapprove
51%
46%
51%
55%
Don't know / No answer
8%
6%
9%
7%
"Some people say using coal to generate electricity is a good idea because it's available in North America and there are new methods for using coal that cause less pollution. Other people say most coal use is a bad idea because it still causes pollution and coal mining hurts the landscape and wildlife. What do you think -- is using coal to generate electricity mostly a good idea, or mostly a bad idea?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Good
43%
52%
36%
44%
Bad
48%
39%
54%
47%
Don't know / No answer
9%
9%
10%
9%
"Some people say using natural gas to generate electricity is a good idea because it's available in North America and is the cleanest of all fossil fuels. Other people say using natural gas is a bad idea because it contributes to global warming, and transporting it can be dangerous. What do you think -- is using natural gas to generate electricity mostly a good idea or mostly a bad idea?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Good
51%
61%
42%
53%
Bad
37%
29%
45%
35%
Don't know / No answer
12%
10%
13%
12%
"Some people say using nuclear power to generate electricity is a good idea because uranium fuel is available in North America and nuclear power doesn't contribute to global warming. Other people say using nuclear power is a bad idea because of the risk of accident and the fact there is still no long-term solution for nuclear waste disposal. What do you think -- is using nuclear power to generate electricity mostly a good idea or mostly a bad idea?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Good
36%
48%
26%
38%
Bad
58%
43%
67%
58%
Don't know / No answer
6%
9%
7%
4%
"Some people say using renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power, to generate electricity is a good idea because they are readily available and better for the environment. Other people say using renewable energy sources are a bad idea because they are too expensive and can be unreliable. What do you think -- is using renewable energy sources to generate electricity mostly a good idea or mostly a bad idea?"
Total
Republican
Democrat
Independent
Good
87%
83%
90%
88%
Bad
9%
12%
7%
8%
Don't know / No answer
4%
5%
3%
4%
"Some people say that using ethanol, which is manufactured from corn, is a good idea because it is an American-made substitute for foreign oil that causes less air pollution. Other people say ethanol is a bad idea because it drives up food prices and has less energy. What do you think -- is using ethanol mostly a good idea or mostly a bad idea?"
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Mar. 5-8, 2009