Public Sees Alternative Fuels as Wave of Future

Americans divided over which institution should be responsible for developing alternative fuels

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

PRINCETON, NJ — With worldwide demand for oil increasing, there are questions about whether the world’s oil supply will be able to meet future demand. A recent CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows that most Americans expect oil supplies to eventually run short. The public’s expectation is that, within 30 years, most U.S. automobiles will primarily run on alternative sources of fuel rather than gasoline. Americans lack consensus over whether the government, automobile companies, or oil companies should have the primary responsibility for developing fuel alternatives.

Oil Supply and Demand

The March 10-12 poll finds that 77% of Americans think the world will eventually run short of oil, while 20% believe the global oil supply will always be able to keep up with demand. Most of the people who think the oil supply is limited believe it will be depleted in the next generation or two — 39% say it will happen in less than 25 years, and another 16% say between 25 years and 50 years. Thirty-six percent believe the supply will run short in 50 years or more, including 14% who believe it will not happen for at least another century.

When the views of all Americans are analyzed — including those who do not think the world will run short of oil — the median estimate of when the supply will run short is 50 years. That means half of Americans think the oil supply will run short in 50 years or less, and half think it will be more than 50 years or will never run out.

Gallup