The public's interest in energy alternatives is broad and not necessarily dependent on its worries about gas prices, according to the survey. Three quarters of the public (73 percent) disagrees with the statement that "if we get gas prices to drop and stay low, we don't need to be worried about finding alternative sources of energy," and fully 53 percent "strongly disagree." While the survey found consensus on many aspects of the energy challenge, there are also significant barriers in building public support for change.
"Perhaps no challenge facing the United States today is more dependent on public support and consumer action than energy," according to Daniel Yankelovich, Public Agenda' chairman and social scientist, who developed the Learning Curve concept of public understanding. Citizens typically move through distinct stages, from first, initial consciousness of the problem to a second stage of "working through" the tradeoffs in different options and then finally, to resolution about solutions. "The challenges involved in solving our energy problems and getting public support for those solutions are difficult but far from insurmountable. Given what's at stake, it's essential that progress up this learning curve accelerate as quickly as possible," Yankelovich said.
As part of the Learning Curve analysis, Public Agenda identified four broad clusters of public opinion based on their attitudes, values and knowledge; the Anxious (40 percent), the Greens (24 percent), the Disengaged (19 percent) and the Climate Change Doubters (17 percent). The steep learning curve required for all four groups poses challenges for policy makers.
Common Ground on Alternative Energy and Taxes
Despite the many differences in public attitudes and gaps in knowledge, there is widespread public support on a number of policies that the nation could pursue, particularly around alternative energy, conservation, and incentives to become more efficient. A number of proposals have more than two-thirds support:
- 86 percent agree that investing in alternative energy will create many new jobs (45 percent believe this strongly)
- 84 percent support more investment in fuel-efficient railways (47 percent strongly)
- 81 percent support tax rebates to individuals who reduce energy use (,44 percent strongly)
- 79 percent, support tax rebates to businesses (41 percent strongly)who reduce energy use
- 78 percent want higher gas-mileage requirements for cars (50 percent strongly)
- 74 percent say developers should be required to build more energy-efficient homes (32 percent strongly)
- 73 percent support tax credits to purchasers of hybrid automobiles (38 percent strongly)
- 72 percent want to reward businesses that reduce carbon emissions and penalize those that don't (37 percent strongly)
- 71 percent agree that more tax money should be spent on public transportation (33 percent strongly)
- 68 percent want the nation to take steps to gain energy independence even if it raises energy costs (24 percent strongly)
By contrast, majorities oppose measures that would force change by increasing the cost of driving, such as setting a "floor" on gasoline prices (72 percent, with 58 percent strongly opposed), congestion pricing (61 percent, 41 percent strongly) and higher gas taxes. Some 57 percent reject a gas tax even when if it would be used to achieve energy independence, with 37 percent strongly opposed.
"Very often politicians and the media focus on the deep divisions in our society, and those divisions are real enough. Yet despite many differences among citizens, there is important common ground on a range of solutions to the energy challenge. The Energy Learning Curve(TM) survey is proof that people can have very different starting points and yet end up at the same place," said Scott Bittle, Public Agenda executive vice president and director of public issues analysis. With Public Agenda colleague Jean Johnson, Bittle is co-author of the upcoming book, "Who Turned Out the Lights: Your Guided Tour to the Energy Crisis," to be published by Harper Collins this fall.
Four "Clusters" of the Public
Public Agenda's study found four clusters of people with distinctive values, beliefs and knowledge. While they come at this problem from very different perspectives, they sometimes end up with similar views on solutions. The groups include:
- The largest group, the Anxious, account for 40 percent of Americans. Worried about energy costs, oil scarcity and global warming, they favor conservation, regulation and development of alternative energy sources. They tend to be younger, lower income and have less knowledge about energy issues.
- The second largest cluster, the Greens, represent 24 percent of the public, strongly favors conservation and developing renewable energy over drilling for oil. They are willing to pay more to develop renewable energy. Politically moderate, they tend to be higher income and more knowledgeable about energy issues.
- The Disengaged group comprises 19 percent of the public and can be described as politically moderate, lower income and disproportionately older and female, with limited knowledge and concern about energy issues.
- Finally, 17 percent are Climate Change Doubters, who do not consider global warming a problem. They are politically conservative and support more nuclear power and expanded domestic oil drilling.
Public Primarily Troubled by Energy Prices and Oil Dependence
Right now, the majority of the public sees the price of energy and the problem of oil dependence as deeply troubling problems. Climate change is a lesser concern.
- Overwhelming majorities worry about increases in the price of gas and fuel (89 percent overall, with 57 percent saying they worry "a lot")
- Concern about dependence on foreign oil is almost as high at 83 percent (with 47 percent worrying "a lot")
- Concern about climate change is much less intense. While 71 percent say they're at least "somewhat" worried about global warming, only 32 percent say they worry "a lot." That's 25 points less than the number of people who worry a lot about prices.
Barriers to Public Engagement
The study found most Americans tend to focus on one or two aspects of the "energy problem," such as prices or climate change, not recognizing their connection to other issues.
Despite consensus on certain solutions, misconceptions and lack of knowledge hinder informed judgment and create a disconnect between the public and policy makers. For example, half of all Americans could not identify a renewable energy source, nearly 4 in 10 cannot name a fossil fuel, two-thirds overestimate U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil, and more than half think that, by reducing smog, the United States has gone "a long way" in addressing global warming.
"Better information, by itself, isn't enough," Yankelovich said. "It would be a terrible mistake to assume that if and when the knowledge gap is filled, the public will then be ready to support sound policies. People can absorb factual information much faster than they can overcome wishful thinking and denial or accept far-reaching changes in habits and lifestyles."
To summarize, as Yankelovich says: "This is a unique challenge to policy makers: the combination of a fast-moving, complex problem and a comparatively slow-moving public trying to come to grips with it. While the challenges are significant, and the hurdles extensive, there's nothing in our research to suggest that they're insurmountable. The American public has grappled with complex challenges. Given committed leadership and the right conditions, the public can come to firm, sound conclusions. Energy is the next big challenge, and given the right circumstances, can be the next success."
