GLOBE-Net, November 13, 2011- Are those in
Congress and the White House who embrace the agendas of coal, oil,
gas, and nuclear industries in sync … or out of touch … with the
mainstream of America?
A new survey of 1,049 Americans conducted October 21-24, 2011 by
ORC International for the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society
Institute (CSI) finds that most Americans - including an often
large share of Tea Party supporters - are not on the same page as
many in Congress and at the White House when it comes to energy
issues:
The results of the poll indicate that 60 percent of American
voters are against government support for fossil fuel power, and
that view is consistent across the political spectrum.
ORC International asked survey respondents "Do you support
federal subsidies for oil and gas, coal, natural gas and other
fossil fuel companies?"
The response was described as strikingly uniform, with 59
percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Independents, 59 percent of
Democrats, and 59 percent of Tea Party members opposing federal
fossil fuel subsidies.
Most Americans also support loan guarantee support
for renewables, and said they wanted America to make the
investments required to be a global clean energy leader.
Few Americans want Washington to adopt a laissez faire approach
to energy issues, say the report authors.Only about one in four
Americans (27 percent) - including 47 percent of Republicans, 27
percent of Independents, 11 percent of Democrats and a surprisingly
small 57 percent of Tea Party supporters -- say "Congress and the
President should stay out of the energy markets and let private
enterprise have a free hand in picking energy sources and setting
prices."
This survey adds to consistent polling across North America
showing generalized support among the electorate to reduce GHG
emissions. Despite this consistency, it is still common to hear
that public opinion is divided on climate policy.
Other points emerging from the survey include:
- Less than one in five Americans (17 percent) think that
"climate change is not a factor" in "at least 10 weather related
disasters. Fewer than half (45 percent) of Tea Party members fall
into the climate change denial camp on this question.
- Nearly three in five (58 percent) of Americans are now aware of
"the natural gas drilling process sometimes referred to as
'fracking.'"
- About four in five Americans (79 percent) - including 66
percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Independents, 91 percent of
Democrats, and 55 percent of Tea Party supporters -- say they are
very or somewhat concerned "about fracking as it relates to water
quality."
- Roughly three out of four Americans (74 percent) - including 68
percent of Republicans, 72 percent of Independents, 81 percent of
Democrats, and 58 percent of Tea Party backers - agree with the
following statement:"The cost of electricity paid by consumers is
only part of the price of energy. We have to look at the whole
picture -- including water quality, environmental damages and human
health problems -- when we talk about what a particular source of
energy costs America
Similar attitudes to this survey are reflected in Canada and BC:
78% of Canadians want Canada to be a leader in
the global fight against climate change, and 70% of
British Columbians in turn support the province's leadership on
climate policy.
GLOBE
2012, taking place March 14-16, 2012,
will have a special energy leaders dialogue dedicated to examining
the recalibration of the global energy mix and the policy
dimensions surrounding this. Get More
information on GLOBE 2012 here
Source: PICS News Scan - 15 November 2012, Produced by
ISIS, Sauder School of Business, UBC