Public Views On Energy Problems

Finding 1: Right now, a majority of the public sees the price of energy and dependence on foreign oil as troubling problems. Significantly, they also believe the problem won’t go away when the price of energy falls. Climate change, however, is less of a concern.

Almost everyone in the energy field assumes that public concern rises and falls with gas prices, and there is strong historical evidence for that. The Energy Learning Curve™ survey suggests, however, that this pattern could change.

Even though energy prices have fallen since the oil price spike of 2008, public concern over cost remains both strong and intense. An overwhelming 9 in 10 Americans (89 percent) say they worry about the cost of gas and fuel. Even more important is the intensity of that concern, with 57 percent saying they worry “a lot.” Eight in ten (83 percent) worry that the U.S. economy is too dependent on oil, with 47 percent saying they worry “a lot.”

Nearly three quarters of the public (73 percent) disagree 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.” Fully 53 percent of the public strongly disagree with that statement, showing this is a firmly held belief.

This may be because the public believes there’s a long-term trend at work here. Seven in ten say that “over the long run, the price of oil will go up” because “supplies are decreasing and demand continues to rise.” Despite the high number, the public still has some contradictory views on this trend. Nearly as many (68 percent) also blame “speculators who drive up the price of oil” for cost increases.

Concern about dependence on foreign oil isn’t as high as concern about price, but it’s not far behind. Eight in ten (80 percent) say they worry dependence on foreign oil will involve us in wars and conflicts in the Middle East, with 43 percent worrying “a lot.”

Climate change, however, is significantly less of a concern. Seven in ten (71 percent) say they worry about global warming, but only 32 percent say they worry “a lot” about it — that’s 25 points behind price. The issue of global warming simply doesn’t have the same urgency yet for the public, possibly because it’s further off, but the high price of gas remains fresh in their minds.