Energy Issue Heats Up With Americans

Americans more concerned than a year ago about nation’s energy supply

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ — Public concern about the United States’ energy supply is up sharply this year. According to Gallup’s annual Environment survey, updated March 13-16, there has been a 10-point increase (from 31% to 41%) in the percentage of Americans rating the nation’s energy situation as “very serious,” and a 9-point increase (from 39% to 48%) in the percentage worrying “a great deal” about the nation’s energy supply.

President George W. Bush earns poor marks for his handling of energy policy. Only 25% of Americans, down from 32% last year, say he is doing a good job of improving the nation’s energy policy. Sixty-three percent say he is doing a poor job. Similarly, a March 10-12 CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll found only 24% of Americans believe Bush is doing enough to solve the nation’s energy problems. This is down from 38% in 2001.

Along with increased concern about the energy situation, the Environment survey records a slight shift in Americans’ preferences for how the nation’s energy problem should be addressed. When asked which of two approaches they prefer the United States to follow — more production of oil, gas, and coal supplies, or more conservation of existing supplies by consumers — Americans choose conservation over production, 55% to 35%. However, the percentage favoring more production is up seven points from the 28% recorded last year, while the percentage favoring conservation has declined six points.

Republicans are about evenly divided between favoring more production versus more conservation; majorities of independents and Democrats prefer conservation. Among all three groups, support for more energy production has increased over the past year.

Gallup