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Gallup's Pulse of Democracy

Energy

Guidance for Lawmakers

  1. A majority of Americans see conservation rather than energy production as the better solution to the nation's energy problems. The current percentage represents a slight shift away from the larger percentage favoring conservation from 2002 to 2005.
  2. Americans in 2006 are divided over opening up the Alaskan wilderness to oil exploration, whereas in the past the majority had opposed it.
  3. Americans readily favor proposals for setting more stringent emissions standards for autos, business, and industry, and widely favor developing alternate fuel sources (solar, wind).
  4. A majority of 56% favors the use of nuclear power as a source of electricity for United States.
  5. As of April 2006, large majorities of Americans favored a variety of measures to curb gas prices, including setting price controls, temporarily suspending gas taxes, and applying a surtax to oil company profits. A slim majority of Americans opposed giving consumers a $100 fuel rebate.
  6. Americans overwhelmingly assign the most blame to big U.S. oil companies for the rise in gas prices. They support efforts to apply a surtax to oil company profits. More than half also support breaking up those companies as a solution to high gas prices.
  7. At times in 2006, energy costs ranked high among the issues mentioned as the "most important problem" facing the country and for Congress and the president to deal with. At one point, three-quarters of Americans said they were angry about gas prices. Still, even while many Americans said energy would be highly important to their vote for Congress in 2006, energy still ranked below Iraq, terrorism, and the economy as an election issue.

Fine Print

The importance of energy as a concern for Americans rises and falls with the price of gas. When the price of gas goes up, concern about energy goes up. When the price of gas declines, energy costs become much less salient to Americans.

Context

Despite the dent that higher fuel prices are putting into consumers' pockets, Americans mostly perceive energy as a problem for the future, not the present. A majority of Americans say the United States is likely to face a critical oil shortage in the next five years, but only 12% think the country is currently in a state of crisis over this. (Another 49% says it is a "major problem" today.)

Americans' anger about the energy situation is about equally directed at the government and the oil and gas industry. Three-quarters of Americans in an April 2006 poll reported feeling angry about the energy issue; of these, half said they are most angry with gas and oil companies, while 26% were angry at President Bush, specifically, and another 21% were angry at the government or politicians, generally.

The oil and gas industry receives the most negative ratings of 25 U.S. business sectors rated in 2006. But the federal government is the second worst-rated sector.

Urgency: Overall Importance as Political Issue

The urgency of energy as a political issue varies significantly with the price of gas. As gas prices rose to more than $3 a gallon in 2006, the percentage of Americans saying the energy situation is very serious was the highest it has been in five years. This increased concern showed up in several measures of its relative importance as a public policy issue. At points about 4 in 10 Americans said gas prices will factor as an extremely important issue when they vote in the congressional elections. This positioned the energy issue well above same-sex marriage, immigration, and taxes as a self-reported election year concern, but below the situation in Iraq, corruption in government, the economy, and terrorism.

As the price of gas rose, fuel costs jumped up the list of the top problems mentioned when Americans are asked in open-ended questions to name the most important issue facing the nation or for Congress to deal with. That sense of urgency quickly abated as the price of gas fell in the fall of 2006.

Key Subgroup Differences

There is relatively little partisan variation in the perceived seriousness of the energy issue, or in the percentage naming gas and fuel prices as a top problem for Congress to deal with. There are slightly greater differences by party in the preferred solution to the energy problem: Democrats are more likely than Republicans to favor conservation. On the more hot-button issue of allowing oil exploration in the Alaskan wilderness, however, only 36% of Democrats favor this vs. 69% of Republicans.

While there are big differences in the effect respondents say gas prices are having on their pocketbooks, there is little difference by household income in public concern about gas prices as a policy issue.

The Bottom Line

The energy issue becomes highly salient to Americans when gas prices jump, but becomes more of a back-burner issue when gas prices drop. Americans perceive the problem as more of a future crisis, and while they favor a number of major public policy changes to deal with the issue (raising emissions standards, establishing price controls, raising corporate taxes on oil and gas companies) the issue registers only modest top-of-mind concern in open-ended questions about governmental priorities or problems.

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]?

Increase
a lot

Increase
a little

Stay
about
the same

Decrease
a little

Decrease
a lot

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

%

2008 Aug 7-10

16

24

21

31

6

2

2008 Jul 10-13

52

35

6

5

*

1

* Less than 0.5%

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

Yes, are steps

No, are not

No opinion

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

68

30

2

A. Lack of effective action by the current Bush administration

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

51

31

16

2

B. Lack of effective action by Congress

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

57

32

9

2

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

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

38

38

21

3

D. Price gouging by oil companies

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

58

29

11

2

E. Price gouging by foreign countries that produce oil

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

58

28

11

3

F. Problems caused by the Iraq war

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

39

35

23

3

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

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

52

31

13

4

H. Lack of energy conservation by American consumers

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

48

38

12

2

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

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

46

39

13

2

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

One of most
important
reasons

Important
reason

Not
important

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

40

33

23

4

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]?

More likely to vote for

No difference

Less likely to vote for

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

28

54

17

1

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

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

57

31

9

3

B. Suspending the federal gasoline tax for several months

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

46

39

13

2

C. Building more nuclear power plants

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

47

41

9

3

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

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

64

25

8

3

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

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

50

34

14

2

F. Establishing tax incentives to encourage energy conservation

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

69

20

9

2

G. Raising fuel mileage standards on vehicles

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

68

20

10

2

H. Imposing a windfall profits tax on oil companies

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

58

31

7

4

I. Establishing price controls on gasoline

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

62

28

8

2

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

More likely
to vote for

Less likely
to vote for

No
difference
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 25-27

53

33

10

4

If you had to choose, which has had a greater negative effect on your family's finances this year -- [ROTATED: the rising price of gasoline (or) the rising price of food]?

Rising price
of gasoline

Rising price
of food

Both
equally
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Jul 10-13

76

14

9

1

(vol.) = Volunteered response

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

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

49%

36

9

5

1

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

38%

43

10

8

1

2001 May 18-20

20%

34

18

26

2

^ Asked of a half sample

B. U.S. oil companies

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

60%

30

5

4

1

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

49%

40

5

4

2

2001 May 18-20

52%

35

6

5

2

^ Asked of a half sample

C. Environmental laws and regulations

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

25%

46

16

10

3

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

19%

49

14

15

4

2001 May 18-20

23%

47

14

12

4

^ Asked of a half sample

D. Foreign countries that produce oil

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

46%

39

8

6

1

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

31%

46

12

9

2

2001 May 18-20

44%

37

9

8

2

^ Asked of a half sample

E. American consumers

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

31%

47

11

10

1

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

25%

54

10

10

1

2001 May 18-20

22%

47

13

17

1

^ Asked of a half sample

F. Congress

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

44%

45

7

2

2

2001 May 18-20

31%

51

9

6

3

^ Asked of a half sample

G. U.S. automobile companies

Great
deal


Some

Not
much

None
at all

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

31%

46

11

10

2

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

27%

52

10

10

1

^ Asked of a half sample

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

Doing
enough

Not
enough

Doing too
much (vol.)

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1 ^

17%

78

2

3

2006 Mar 10-12 ^

24%

71

*

5

2001 May 18-20

38%

55

1

6

* Less than 0.5%

(vol.) = Volunteered response

^ Asked of a half sample

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]?

Government

Automobile
companies

Energy/Oil
companies

No
opinion

2008 May 30-Jun 1

49%

30

12

9

2006 Mar 10-12

38%

24

33

5

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

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2008 May 8-11

54

42

4

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]?

Temporary

More permanent

No opinion

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

19

78

3

2005 Sep 12-15 ^

33

65

2

2005 Sep 8-11

36

62

2

2004 Jun 3-6

43

56

1

2004 May 21-23 ^

48

50

2

2004 Mar 26-28 ^

42

55

3

2003 Aug 25-26

65

33

2

2003 Feb 17-19 ^

62

36

2

2001 May 7-9 ^

40

56

4

2000 Jun 22-25 ^

57

39

4

2000 May 23-24 ^

45

50

5

2000 Mar 30-Apr 2 ^

60

37

3

2000 Mar 10-12 ^

63

34

3

^ Asked of a half sample

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

Yes,
caused hardship

No, has not
caused hardship

No
opinion

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

71

29

*

2008 Mar 14-16

63

37

*

2005 Sep 26-28

61

38

1

2005 Sep 12-15 ^

72

28

*

2005 Aug 28-30

69

31

*

2005 May 20-22

59

41

*

2005 Apr 1-2

58

42

*

2000 Feb 14-15 †

40

60

*

* Less than 0.5%

^ Asked of a half sample

† WORDING: Have recent price increases in gasoline, diesel fuel and home fuel oil 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]

Severe
hardship

Moderate
hardship

No
hardship

No
opinion

2008 May 2-4

25%

46

29

*

2008 Mar 14-16

19%

44

37

*

2005 Sep 26-28

16%

45

38

1

2005 Sep 12-15 ^

21%

51

28

*

2005 Aug 28-30

18%

51

31

*

2005 Apr 1-2

15%

43

42

*

* Less than 0.5%

^ Asked of a half sample

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

60%

39

1

2005 Apr 1-2

38%

62

*

2004 Jun 3-6

34%

66

*

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

71%

27

2

2005 Apr 1-2

57%

42

1

2004 Jun 3-6

53%

46

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

74%

25

1

2005 Apr 1-2

72%

27

1

2004 Jun 3-6

69%

30

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

84%

16

*

* Less than 0.5%

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2007 May 4-6

70%

29

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

76%

23

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

34%

63

3

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

31%

68

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

51%

48

1

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

62%

38

*

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

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2008 May 2-4

81%

17

2

K. Cut back significantly on how much you drive

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2005 Apr 1-2

48%

51

1

2004 Jun 3-6

45%

54

1

L. Altered your summer vacation plans

Yes, have

No, have not

No opinion

2004 Jun 3-6

29%

70

1

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?

Going ahead
with plans

Changing
plans

Plans not
affected by
price of gas

No
opinion

2008 May 2-4

21%

36

41

2

2006 Jun 23-25

28%

33

38

1

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

2008
May 2-4

2006
Jun 23-25

%

%

Canceled trip/cannot afford

37

26

Changing travel destination /Making shorter trip /Going somewhere closer

24

23

Cutting down on number of trips normally take

20

37

Use another form of transportation (plane/train/bus)

7

9

Car pooling

5

2

Doing better planning / saving up

3

7

Not driving vehicle of choice due to gas consumption

*

5

Other

8

5

No opinion

2

*

* Less than 0.5%

Percentages add to more than 100% due to multiple responses.

(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

Have
done

An option,
but have
not done

Not an
option

Does not
apply (vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

7

11

80

2

--

(vol.) = Volunteered response

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

Have
done

An option,
but have
not done

Not an
option

Does not
apply (vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

10

11

75

4

--

C. Take fewer business trips

Have
done

An option,
but have
not done

Not an
option

Does not
apply (vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

15

7

55

23

*

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

Have
done

An option,
but have
not done

Not an
option

Does not
apply (vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

8

8

82

2

--

(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?

Yes, will reach
$6 per gallon

No, will not

No
opinion

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

54

44

2

(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?

Yes, will reach
$10 per gallon

No, will not

No
opinion

%

%

%

2008 May 2-4

19

78

3

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

Less
than
$3.25

$3.25-
$3.49

$3.50-
$3.75

$3.76-
$4.00

Over
$4.00

No
opinion

2008 Mar 14-16

42%

36

13

5

*

4

* Less than 0.5%

For comparison: Prior Gallup polls

Mean

Median

2008 Mar 14-16

$3.30

$3.25

2007 May 4-6

$3.02

$3.00

2006 Apr 28-30

$2.93

$2.95

2005 Aug 28-30

$2.65

$2.62

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

Less
than
$3.25

$3.25-
$3.49

$3.50-
$3.75

$3.76-
$4.00

Over
$4.00

No
opinion


Mean


Median

%

%

%

%

%

%

2008 Mar 14-16

2

4

20

49

19

6

$3.98

$4.00

SUMMARY TABLE: EXPECTED INCREASE IN GAS PRICES PER GALLON

2008
Mar 14-16

2006
Apr 28-30

%

%

Current price is the high for the year

2

4

Increase of $0.01 to less than $0.25

9

18

Increase of $0.25 to less than $0.50

17

20

Increase of $0.50 to less than $0.75

30

19

Increase of $0.75 or more

35

34

No opinion

7

6

Mean increase

+$0.67

+$0.65

Median increase

+$0.65

+$0.53

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]?

Environ-
ment

Develop-
ment of
U.S.
energy
supplies

Both/
equally
(vol.)

Neither/
Other
(vol.)

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2008 Mar 6-9

50

41

4

2

3

2007 Mar 11-14

58

34

3

2

3

2006 Mar 13-16

49

42

4

2

3

2005 Mar 7-10

52

39

4

2

3

2004 Mar 8-11

48

44

3

1

4

2003 Mar 3-5

49

40

5

2

4

2002 Mar 4-7

52

40

3

2

3

2001 Mar 5-7

52

36

6

2

4

(vol.) = Volunteered response

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

Very
serious

Fairly
serious

Not at all
serious

No
opinion

%

%

%

%

2008 Mar 6-9

46

49

5

1

2007 Mar 11-14

37

55

7

1

2006 Mar 13-16

41

51

7

1

2005 Mar 7-10

31

56

10

3

2004 Mar 8-11

29

57

12

2

2003 Mar 3-5

28

59

11

2

2002 Mar 4-7

22

63

12

3

2001 Jun 28-Jul 1

47

43

8

2

2001 May 7-9

58

36

4

2

2001 Mar 5-7

31

59

9

1

1991 Feb 7-10

40

44

14

2

1990 Sep 27-30

32

46

19

3

1990 Sep 10-11

28

48

21

3

1990 Aug 9-12

28

45

23

4

1979 Aug 3-6

47

35

16

3

1979 Jun 1-4

37

36

24

3

1979 Apr 27-May 4

44

36

16

4

1979 Feb 23-26

43

42

13

2

1978 Mar 31-Apr 3

41

39

15

5

1977 Nov 18-21

40

42

14

4

1977 Sep 30-Oct 3

40

40

16

4

1977 Aug 5-8

38

43

13

6

1977 Jun 3-6

40

42

13

5

1977 Apr 29-May 2

44

40

11

5

1977 Apr 1-4

41

39

16

4

Which of the following approaches to solving the nation's energy problems do you think the U.S. should follow right now -- [ROTATED: emphasize production of more oil, gas and coal supplies (or) emphasize more conservation by consumers of existing energy supplies]?

More
produc-
tion

More
con-
servation

Both/
Equally
(vol.)

Neither/
Other
(vol.)

No
opinion

%