Energy

Have recent price increases in gasoline caused any financial hardship for you or your household?

Is that a severe hardship that affects your ability to maintain your current standard of living, or is it a moderate hardship that affects you somewhat but does not jeopardize your current standard of living?

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

About how much would you say you currently pay for a gallon of gasoline?

For comparison: Prior Gallup polls

How high do you think the price of a gallon of gasoline will go in the area where you live this year?

SUMMARY TABLE: EXPECTED INCREASE IN GAS PRICES PER GALLON

With which one of these statements about the environment and energy production do you most agree -- [ROTATED: 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]?

How serious would you say the energy situation is in the United States -- very serious, fairly serious, or not at all serious?

Would you prefer the government to increase, decrease, or not change the financial support and incentives it gives for producing energy from alternative sources such as wind and solar?

Would you prefer the government to increase, decrease or not change the financial support and incentives it gives for producing energy from traditional sources such as oil and gas?

Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity for the U.S.?

ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE

Between now and the end of the year, do you think gas prices in your local area will -- [ROTATED: increase a lot, increase a little, stay about the same, decrease a little (or) decrease a lot]?

Do you think there are -- or are not -- steps a president can take that could reduce gas prices significantly in the short term?

Do you think each of the following is one of the most important reasons why the price of gasoline is so high, an important reason, but not one of the most important reasons, or not an important reason? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Lack of effective action by the current Bush administration

B. Lack of effective action by Congress

C. Lack of effective action by previous presidents and their administrations

D. Price gouging by oil companies

E. Price gouging by foreign countries that produce oil

F. Problems caused by the Iraq war

G. Price speculation in the buying and selling of oil investments by major banks and hedge funds

H. Lack of energy conservation by American consumers

I. Increased demand for oil from China, India and other developing countries

J. Too many environmental regulations that hinder the development of new energy sources

If a presidential candidate said that the energy problem would not be solved unless Americans changed their habits to use less energy, would that make you -- [ROTATED: more likely to vote for him, would it not make any difference, (or would it make you) less likely to vote for him]?

Thinking now about some of the solutions offered to address the energy situation in the United States, please say whether you would be more likely or less likely to vote for a candidate who supported -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Easing restrictions on offshore domestic drilling

B. Suspending the federal gasoline tax for several months

C. Building more nuclear power plants

D. Authorizing a $150 billion investment by the federal government in research on bio-fuels and clean energy sources

E. Offering a $300 million government prize for the development of an electric car with a long-lasting battery

F. Establishing tax incentives to encourage energy conservation

G. Raising fuel mileage standards on vehicles

H. Imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies

I. Establishing price controls on gasoline

J. Releasing up to 10% of the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve

Please tell me whether you think each of the following deserves a great deal of blame, some blame, not much blame, or no blame at all for the country's current energy problems. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. The current Bush administration

B. U.S. oil companies

C. Environmental laws and regulations

D. Foreign countries that produce oil

E. American consumers

F. Congress

G. U.S. automobile companies

Overall, do you think President Bush is or is not doing enough to solve the country's energy problems?

Who do you think should have the primary responsibility for spending money to develop alternative sources of energy to gasoline -- [ROTATED: the government, the automobile companies, (or) energy or oil companies]?

Do you favor or oppose a proposal that would suspend the federal tax on gasoline during the coming summer months?

Now, thinking about the cost of gasoline, do you think the current rise in gas prices represents -- [ROTATED: a temporary fluctuation in prices, or a more permanent change in prices]?

As a result of the recent rise in gas prices, would you say you have -- or have not -- done each of the following? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Cut back significantly on your household spending because of the higher gas prices

B. Seriously considered getting a more fuel-efficient car the next time you buy a vehicle

C. Made more of an effort to find the gas station with the cheapest gas in your area

D. Consolidated errands or taken other steps in order to cut back on your daily driving

For comparison: We'd like to know whether or not rising gas prices have caused you to do any of the following. How about -- consolidate errands or taken other steps in order to cut back on your daily driving

E. Taken steps to increase the gas mileage of the car you drive, such as by driving slower, getting a tune up, or using the air conditioning less often

F. Switched to using a lower grade of gasoline, such as from premium to regular

G. Used alternative means of travel, such as bus, subway, bicycle or walking

H. Decided not to take a trip that you have taken regularly in previous years

I. Shared rides with friends or neighbors when you were going to the same place

J. Driven the most fuel efficient car you currently own whenever possible

K. Cut back significantly on how much you drive

L. Altered your summer vacation plans

Next, we'd like to know how the price of gasoline has affected your summer recreation plans, including any vacations or weekend trips you were planning to take. Which of the following applies to you -- you are going ahead with your plans even though you will end up paying a lot more for gas, you are changing your plans so that you will not have to pay as much for gas, or you did not plan to travel much during the summer so the price of gas is not really affecting your plans?

(Asked of those who are changing their plans) Can you tell me in what ways your plans have changed?

(Asked of those who drive or ride with someone else to work) Please say whether each of the following would or would not be an option for you. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

(Asked of those for whom the action would be an option) Have you, personally, done this because of the high cost of gas, or not?

COMBINED RESULTS: BASED ON THOSE WHO DRIVE OR CARPOOL TO WORK

A. Change jobs or move in order to shorten your commute to work

B. Work from home rather than driving to the office as often as possible

C. Take fewer business trips

D. Change the way you commute to work, such as by taking the bus, train, subway or walking

(Asked of a half sample) Just your best guess, do you think the price of gasoline will reach six dollars per gallon at some point over the next five years, or will the price not get that high?

(Asked of a half sample) Just your best guess, do you think the price of gasoline will reach ten dollars per gallon at some point over the next five years, or will the price not get that high?

Do you think that the United States is or is not likely to face a critical energy shortage during the next five years?

Do you think the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska should or should not be opened up for oil exploration?

We'd like to know whether or not rising gas prices have caused you to do any of the following. How about -- [ITEMS ROTATED]?

A. Shorten or cancel a vacation you had planned to take by car

B. Consolidate errands or taken other steps in order to cut back on your daily driving

C. (Asked of adults employed full or part-time) Change jobs or move in order to shorten your commute to work

BASED ON 562 ADULTS EMPLOYED FULL OR PART-TIME

Suppose gasoline prices continue to rise. Do you think gas prices could get so high that you would -- [RANDOM ORDER] -- or is that something you would not do no matter how high gas prices get?

A. Move from your current home so you would be closer to the places you drive most often

B. Use mass transit, such as a bus or subway, as your main source of transportation

C. Replace your vehicle with one that gets better gas mileage

D. (Asked of adults employed full or part-time) Change jobs

BASED ON 562 ADULTS EMPLOYED FULL OR PART-TIME

Overall, would you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the construction of a nuclear energy plant in your area as one of the ways to provide electricity for the U.S.?

ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE

By the end of the year, do you think the price of a gallon of gasoline in your local area will be -- [ROTATED: a lot higher, a little higher, about the same, a little lower, (or) a lot lower], compared with what you are paying now?

Just your best guess, do you think -- [ROTATED: the Bush administration has deliberately manipulated the price of gasoline so that it would decrease before this fall's elections, (or do you think) the recent decline in the price of gasoline has not been due to any manipulation by the Bush administration]?

If the price of gasoline stays that high for awhile, what, if anything, will you have to do differently in your daily life? [OPEN-ENDED]

Would you say you are angry about the recent increases in gasoline prices, or not?

Who are you angry with? [OPEN-ENDED]

[ASKED OF ADULTS WHO ARE ANGRY ABOUT RECENT INCREASES IN GASOLINE PRICES]

Would you favor or oppose Congress passing legislation to do each of the following as a way to reduce the price of gasoline? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Who do you trust more to deal with the issue of gas prices -- [ROTATED: the Republicans in Congress (or) the Democrats in Congress]?

Suppose you currently paid $2.35 for a gallon of gasoline. Would you favor or oppose a federal tax that would raise the price to $3.35 per gallon, with the extra dollar going to the development of new types of fuel?

Now, thinking about the cost and availability of electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and other forms of energy, would you say the country -- [ROTATED: is in a state of crisis, has major problems, has minor problems, (or) has no problems at all]?

As a result of the increase in gas prices over the past year, have you and your family cut back significantly on the amount you drive, or not?

As a result of the increase in gas prices over the past year, have you and your family cut back significantly on your household spending on other items, or not?

From what you've seen or heard about the hybrid cars now on the market that use a combination of gas and electric power, would you seriously consider buying or leasing a hybrid car when replacing a vehicle you now drive, or not?

Looking ahead, do you think -- [ROTATED: the global supply of oil will always be able to keep up with the demand for oil around the world, (or do you think) the world will eventually run short of oil sometime in the future]?

Just your best guess, how many years do you think it will be before the world runs short of oil?

[ASKED OF THOSE WHO SAY WORLD'S SUPPLY OF OIL WILL EVENTUALLY RUN SHORT]

[COMBINED RESPONSES]

Just your best guess, how likely is it that terrorists will attempt a major attack against oil producing facilities or oil supplies somewhere in the world within the next 12 months -- very likely, somewhat likely, not too likely, or not at all likely?

Now, I have a question about the forms of fuel that Americans will be using 30 years from now. Do you think -- [ROTATED: gasoline will still fuel most of the cars Americans drive in 30 years, (or) most of the cars Americans drive will use some other type of fuel in 30 years]?

Who do you think should have the primary responsibility for spending money to develop alternative sources of energy to gasoline -- [ROTATED: the government, the automobile companies, (or) energy or oil companies]?

Do you think the federal government should -- or should not -- regulate the price of gasoline?

Do you think Congress should hold an investigation into the profits that oil companies have made in the past few months, or do you think an investigation is not necessary?

Looking ahead to one year from now, do you think gas prices at that time will be -- [ROTATED: much higher than they are today, somewhat higher, about the same, somewhat lower, (or) much lower than they are today]?

When you buy or lease your next vehicle, will the car's gas mileage be a more important consideration for you than it has been in the past, or will it not be any more important to you?

[ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE]

Suppose you were going to buy a new vehicle. Would you seriously consider buying a car or SUV that is a gas-electric hybrid, or not?

[ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE]

If the hybrid vehicle cost $3,000 more than the standard model of the same vehicle, would you still seriously consider buying it, or not?

[COMBINED RESPONSES]